Hepatitis E vaccination for adults

Who this is recommended for

• Women of childbearing age, before conception, because hepatitis E in pregnancy carries a mortality of roughly 20 to 25 per cent
• Adults with chronic liver disease
• Adults who are immunocompromised
• Adults being assessed for or awaiting organ transplantation
• Adults living in or travelling to areas with poor water and sanitation

Schedule

A three-dose series. Licensed in India for adults aged 18 to 65.

Timing

For women of childbearing age the timing matters: complete the course before conception, not during pregnancy.

What is available, and what we use

There is no alternative. This is the only hepatitis E vaccine approved in India, launched in January 2026. It is a three-dose course at this price per dose, so it is a significant commitment and we will only suggest it where the case is genuinely strong: chronic liver disease, immunosuppression, pre-transplant assessment, or a woman planning a pregnancy.

Product names and prices are listed so you know what you are being given and what it costs. They are for identification only and do not constitute a recommendation of any manufacturer. Prices shown are the manufacturer's maximum retail price per dose as at 12 August 2026; manufacturers and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority revise these from time to time, and your actual cost is confirmed before anything is administered.

What we will not gloss over

• Not for use during pregnancy. A trial in Bangladesh raised a possible signal of increased spontaneous abortion when vaccination occurred around conception or in early pregnancy, and the World Health Organization's safety committee concluded that signal cannot be disregarded pending further study.
• Data in adults under 18 and in severely immunocompromised patients are limited.
• The World Health Organization currently recommends this vaccine for special situations such as outbreaks rather than for routine national programmes. We will discuss whether it is right for you individually rather than offering it to everyone.
• Supply is still settling. Retail availability across India is intermittent, so tell us early if you want this and we will indent it rather than promise a date we cannot keep.