Why should healthy people get the hepatitis B vaccine? The hepatitis B vaccine can successfully prevent infection with the hepatitis B virus. Vaccinating newborns with the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as they are born basically ensures that they will not have hepatitis B in the future. Most of the existing cirrhosis and liver cancer develop from hepatitis B. Successful prevention of hepatitis B is actually the first shot against cirrhosis and liver cancer. Types of hepatitis B vaccine There are different preparations of hepatitis B vaccine to choose from. Most of the vaccines currently used are genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccines, and the blood-borne vaccines previously used have been largely eliminated (due to the suspicion of causing blood-borne diseases and the waste of large amounts of plasma). Genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine is a recombinant plasmid containing the hepatitis B surface antigen gene constructed using modern genetic engineering techniques, which can be used to prevent infection with all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus. The doses of genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine used today are 10 micrograms per dose, or 20 micrograms. Monovalent vaccine – protects against hepatitis B only Combination vaccine – not only protects against hepatitis B, but also provides immunity against infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and Haemophilus influenzae type B