Preventing hepatitis depends on which type you’re dealing with, since each spreads differently. Hepatitis A and E travel through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, C, and D spread through blood and body fluids. Vaccines exist for hepatitis A and B (and the B vaccine also protects against D), but there’s no vaccine for hepatitis C or E. Here’s how to protect yourself against each one.
Vaccination: Your Strongest Protection
Vaccines are the single most effective way to prevent hepatitis A and B. The hepatitis B vaccine is especially powerful: studies show that more than 82% of vaccinated people maintain protective antibody levels five years after completing the series, and the immune memory it creates lasts at least 15 years, even as antibody levels naturally decline over time. Booster doses are generally not needed.
For hepatitis B, adults typically need two or three doses depending on the vaccine used. One newer option requires just two doses, while the more traditional versions require three. The hepatitis A vaccine is given as a two-dose series. A combination vaccine covering both A and B is also available for adults, given as either three or four doses.
If you were vaccinated as a child and aren’t sure of your status, a simple blood test can check whether you still have protective antibodies. The CDC now recommends universal screening for hepatitis B, so your doctor can test for this during routine bloodwork.
The Hepatitis D Bonus
Hepatitis D can only infect someone who already has hepatitis B, because the D virus literally uses the B virus’s outer coating to survive. This means the hepatitis B vaccine pulls double duty: if you’re immune to B, you’re automatically protected against D.
Preventing Hepatitis C Without a Vaccine
No vaccine exists for hepatitis C, so prevention comes down to avoiding contact with infected blood. Hepatitis C spreads most efficiently through shared needles, syringes, and other injection equipment. If you inject drugs, using sterile syringes every time and accessing syringe services programs are the most effective ways to reduce your risk.
Beyond injection drug use, other blood-to-blood routes matter too. Don’t share razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, or anything else that could break the skin and carry trace amounts of blood. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C is possible but relatively uncommon. Using condoms reduces that risk further.
The good news: hepatitis C is now curable in most cases with antiviral treatment. Getting screened is important because many people carry the virus for years without symptoms, and identifying infections early prevents both liver damage and transmission to others. The CDC recommends that all adults be tested at least once.
Food and Water Safety for Hepatitis A and E
Hepatitis A and E both spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning you get infected by swallowing something contaminated with the virus, often from food handled by an infected person or from untreated water. This makes them a particular concern when traveling to regions with limited sanitation.
Handwashing is your first line of defense. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom, after changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. The hepatitis A virus is notably tough: standard alcohol-based hand sanitizers don’t reliably kill it, so actual soap and water matters here.
When traveling in areas where hepatitis A or E is common, stick to bottled or boiled water, avoid ice made from tap water, and eat food that’s been cooked thoroughly and served hot. Raw or undercooked shellfish deserve special caution. Research on mussels and clams has found that the hepatitis A virus can survive boiling water for a full minute. To reliably destroy the virus in shellfish, the internal temperature needs to reach at least 85 to 90°C (185 to 194°F) and stay there for several minutes. Steaming shells open is not always enough.
For hepatitis A specifically, vaccination before travel provides far better protection than food precautions alone.
Safe Tattoos, Piercings, and Medical Procedures
Any procedure that pierces the skin can transmit hepatitis B or C if the equipment isn’t properly sterilized. This includes tattoos, body piercings, acupuncture, and dental or medical procedures.
When getting a tattoo or piercing, go to a licensed, regulated facility. The artist should use single-use needles opened from sealed packages in front of you, and all reusable equipment should be sterilized in an autoclave. Ink should never be poured back into a shared container. Unregulated tattoo and piercing operations, including informal setups at home or in unlicensed shops, carry a real risk of hepatitis transmission.
In healthcare settings, proper sterilization of instruments and use of disposable supplies are standard practice in most countries, but standards vary. If you’re receiving medical or dental care while traveling, pay attention to whether providers use fresh gloves and sterile instruments.
What to Do After a Possible Exposure
If you’ve been exposed to hepatitis B through a needlestick, sexual contact, or a bite that breaks the skin, post-exposure treatment is available and time-sensitive. For blood exposures, an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (a concentrated dose of protective antibodies) should be given as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. The hepatitis B vaccine series is also started at the same time, with additional doses at one month and six months.
For sexual exposure to someone with acute hepatitis B, immune globulin is recommended within 14 days of the last contact. If you’re unsure whether you’ve been vaccinated or whether your vaccination is still protective, getting tested and treated quickly gives you the best chance of preventing infection.
There’s no equivalent post-exposure treatment for hepatitis C, which makes prevention through safe injection practices and barrier protection even more important. However, early testing after a known exposure allows for prompt treatment if infection does occur, and cure rates with current antiviral therapy exceed 95%.
Screening Catches What Prevention Misses
Many people with chronic hepatitis B or C have no symptoms for years or even decades, while the virus silently damages their liver. Getting screened is a form of prevention in itself, both for your own health and because knowing your status lets you take steps to avoid passing the virus to household members, sexual partners, or others.
Current CDC guidelines recommend universal hepatitis B screening for all adults, along with testing of household contacts, sexual partners, and needle-sharing contacts of anyone who tests positive. Unvaccinated contacts should be offered the vaccine. For hepatitis C, all adults should be screened at least once, with repeat testing for anyone with ongoing risk factors like injection drug use.