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Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults
On April 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the MMWR, Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19-59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2022. These new recommendations expand the age range for universal Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination for infants and children to now include adults 19 years of age and older. Specifically, HepB vaccination is recommended for adults aged 19–59 years and adults aged ≥60 years with risk factors for hepatitis B. Adults aged ≥60 years without known risk factors for hepatitis B may also receive HepB vaccines. HepB vaccines have demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy during the past 4 decades, however, vaccination coverage among adults has been suboptimal, limiting further reduction in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the United States. Removing the risk factor assessment previously recommended to determine vaccine eligibility in this adult age group could increase vaccination coverage and decrease hepatitis B cases.