Guidance

Appendix A: the number of hepatitis-B containing vaccine doses for children – text version

Updated 2 June 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hexavalent-combination-vaccine-programme-guidance/appendix-a-the-number-of-hepatitis-b-containing-vaccine-doses-for-children-text-version

See also comprehensive guidance on hepatitis B antenatal screening and the selective neonatal pathway and the Green Book chapter 18: hepatitis B.

Child born on or before 30 June 2024

Routine schedule

Three doses of hep B containing vaccine indicated as per routine childhood immunisation schedule

Give DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as per previous routine childhood immunisation schedule.

Child born to a woman living with hepatitis B

Six doses of hep B containing vaccine (+/- HBIG) and testing at one year of age as per selective neonatal hepatitis B pathway

  • monovalent hepatitis B vaccine given at birth 
  • second dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine at 4 weeks of age
  • DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as per previous routine immunisation schedule
  • test for HBsAg at one year of age and give final monovalent hepatitis B vaccine

If Hib/MenC vaccine is no longer available, children in this birth cohort should be given the hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccine at one year of age instead (alongside their other routine childhood vaccinations). A separate monovalent HepB vaccine at one year of age  would not be necessary in this situation.

Child living in a household where someone is living with hepatitis B

This refers to those sharing a household with an individual other than their mother who is living with hepatitis B.

Four doses of hep B containing vaccine as per Green Book guidance

  • monovalent hepatitis B vaccine should be offered before discharge from hospital (as per Green Book) 

  • DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as per previous routine childhood immunisation schedule

Child born on or after 1 July 2024

Routine schedule

Four doses of hep B containing vaccine as per routine childhood immunisation schedule

-DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12, 16 weeks and 18 months of age as per new routine childhood immunisation schedule

Child born to a woman living with hepatitis B

Six doses of hep B containing vaccine (+/- HBIG) and testing between one year and 18 months of age as per selective neonatal hepatitis B pathway

  • monovalent hepatitis B vaccine (+/- HBIG) given at birth 
  • second dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine at 4 weeks of age
  • DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12, 16 weeks and 18 months of age as per new routine childhood immunisation schedule
  • test for HBsAg at anytime between one year and 18 months of age

Child living in a household where someone is living with hepatitis B

This refers to those sharing a household with an individual other than their mother who is living with hepatitis B.

Five doses of hep B containing vaccine as per Green Book guidance

  • monovalent hepatitis B vaccine should be offered before discharge from hospital (as per Green Book) 

  • give DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB hexavalent vaccines at 8, 12, 16 weeks and 18 months of age as per new routine childhood immunisation schedule

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