All Adults Ages 19 to 59 Should Get Hepatitis B Shots, Says CDC

All adults ages 19 to 59 should be vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus (HBV), according to updated federal guidelines by the CDC. The new recommendations were published in the April 1 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Hepatitis B can be chronic, and, over years or decades, it can lead to severe liver complications, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, the need for a liver transplant and death. Hepatitis B vaccinations are effective and safe; however, they didn’t became a standard recommendation for children until 1991, which means many Americans born before then are not vaccinated.