The Infection That Doesn't
Always Go Away
Hepatitis B can become a lifelong infection, quietly damaging the liver for years. Three doses, given right, prevent it almost entirely — including the critical birth dose.
A Silent Threat to the Liver
Hepatitis B spreads through blood, from mother to child at birth, and through bodily fluids — not through food, water, or casual contact. In India, mother-to-child transmission at birth is one of the most significant routes, which is why the birth-dose vaccine matters so much.
Many infections, especially in infants, become chronic — meaning the virus stays in the body for years or a lifetime, quietly raising the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer decades later, often with no symptoms in between.
The vaccine is part of India's routine immunization schedule for exactly this reason, and the same three-dose series works just as well for adults who missed it.
Birth dose matters most
Given within 24 hours of birth to block mother-to-child transmission
Often silent for years
Chronic infection can quietly damage the liver with no early symptoms
Real risk for healthcare workers
Blood and bodily fluid exposure make this a standard occupational vaccine
Adult catch-up works fine
Never got it as a child? The same three-dose series still protects you now
Who Should Get the Hepatitis B Vaccine
Newborns, within 24 hours of birth
The single most effective step against mother-to-child transmission.
Unvaccinated adults
The three-dose catch-up series works at any age — never too late to start.
Healthcare workers
Regular exposure to blood and bodily fluids makes this a standard occupational vaccine.
Household contacts of someone with Hep B
Close, ongoing contact carries real transmission risk without vaccination.
People with multiple sexual partners
Bodily fluid contact is a recognized transmission route.
Anyone with chronic liver conditions
A second infection on an already-stressed liver is a risk worth avoiding entirely.
“The reason the birth dose gets so much emphasis is that it's our single best shot at stopping a chronic, lifelong infection before it ever starts. Parents sometimes assume one missed dose in a busy first week isn't a big deal — with Hepatitis B, timing really is the whole story.”
— Dr. Gagan M.S. Malhotra, Founder & Senior Paediatrician
IAP EB Member · IAP Vaccinology Certified · 23 years in practice
Common Questions
How many doses does the Hepatitis B vaccine need?
Three doses, typically at 0, 1, and 6 months. Newborns get a birth dose as part of India's routine immunization schedule; adults catching up follow the same three-dose spacing.
How is Hepatitis B different from Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis B spreads through blood, birth (mother to child), and bodily fluids — not food or water like Hepatitis A. It can become a chronic, lifelong infection; Hepatitis A almost never does. See our dedicated Hepatitis A page for that vaccine.
Why does the birth dose matter so much?
Mother-to-child transmission at birth is one of the most common ways Hepatitis B spreads in India. A dose within 24 hours of birth, followed by the full course, is highly effective at preventing this.
Can adults who missed it as children still get vaccinated?
Yes — the same three-dose series works for adult catch-up. It's a common and worthwhile step for anyone who never completed it, especially healthcare workers, and household contacts of someone with Hepatitis B.
Which brand do you use?
We stock Revac-B(A), Bevac, and Revac MCF PFS as standalone options, plus hexavalent combo vaccines that include Hepatitis B protection for infants.
Looking for the food-and-water-borne kind instead? See our Hepatitis A vaccine page.
Book the Hepatitis B Vaccine at Home
Revac-B(A), Bevac, or Revac MCF PFS. Certified nurse. Cold-chain verified. Paediatrician consultation included. Delhi NCR.