Schedules and when to use them

The choice of schedule depends on how fast protection is required but also should consider vaccine availability and also other vaccinations being given at similar times (eg: HPV).

Schedules are as follows:

• Standard: 0, 1 and 6 months (3 doses)
• Accelerated: 0, 1, 2 and 12 months (4 doses)
• Ultra-Rapid: 0, 1 and 3 weeks and 12 months (4 doses)

Although these are the licensed intervals, any gap of more than a week between the 1st and
2nd injections and more than 2 weeks between 2 and 3 injections would be acceptable.

Young People – For those under 16 years, see WoS guidance: ‘Young people -
Common STIs and other genital infections in 12 to 15 year olds’

Hepatitis A protection - If dual vaccination for HAV/HBV is given as an Ultra-Rapid Schedule it will provide more rapid protection against Hepatitis B than other schedules but full protection against Hepatitis A will be provided later than with vaccines containing a higher dose of Hepatitis A (Havrix contains 1440iu Hepatitis A per vaccine, Twinrix contains 720iu Hepatitis A)

Incomplete vaccination – Evidence suggests that if vaccine courses are not completed in immunocompetent patients, the outstanding doses can be given 4 or more years later without the need to restart a 3 dose course. One or 2 doses of vaccine may provide immunity in 40% and over 90% of immunocompetent patients respectively.