What is in the Hepatitis B vaccine

Two types of hepatitis B vaccines are currently licensed in the United States. The two are 1) the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and 2) the plasma-derived vaccine, which is no longer being produced in the United States.

The commonly used vaccine is recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, which is produced by using common baker's yeast. The vaccines contain no more than 95% Hepatitis B surface antigen protein, and no more than 5% of yeast-derived protein. The vaccine also includes very tiny amounts of other additives such as aluminum hydroxide which help to stabilize and preserve the vaccine.