How is the hepatitis B vaccine booster administered?

Hepatitis B vaccination is administered in three doses—at 0, 1, and 6 months—each dose containing 10 μg of vaccine. For other high-risk populations—including patients undergoing renal dialysis and individuals with occupational exposure to hepatitis B—the dose per injection may be increased to 30 μg. After the first dose, approximately 30% of recipients develop detectable antibodies; however, antibody levels in some individuals are unstable, necessitating booster doses.

Following the second dose, about 90% of recipients develop hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs); after the third dose, seroconversion (antibody positivity) rates exceed 96%. Thus, booster doses enhance the seroconversion rate and help sustain protective antibody levels over time. Accordingly, the standard hepatitis B vaccination schedule consists of three intramuscular injections administered at 0, 1, and 6 months.