Inmates of correctional facilities are recommended to receive hepatitis B vaccine if they are not immune

Inmates of correctional facilities are recommended to receive testing for hepatitis B, and vaccination if appropriate.

This should be part of the facility’s preventive health program for bloodborne viruses.

Inmates have an increased risk of hepatitis B virus infection because of:

• the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B among inmates
• the potential for unprotected sex
• injecting drug use
• amateur tattooing 

Adult-formulation hepatitis B vaccine should be given in a 3-dose schedule. See Table. Monovalent hepatitis B vaccines for adolescents and adults in Vaccines, dosage and administration.

The combination hepatitis A-hepatitis B vaccine may be appropriate for inmates of correctional facilities if they are not immune to either disease. This is because they have an increased risk of both conditions. See Table. Combination hepatitis A-hepatitis B vaccines in Vaccines, dosage and administration.

For more details, see Hepatitis A and Vaccination for other groups.