If an 11 year old child never got the hepatitis B vaccine series, what is the minimum time required between dose 1 and dose 3?

For the hepatitis B vaccine series, the standard immunization schedule recommends that the second dose is given at least 4 weeks after the first dose, and the third dose is ideally given at least 16 weeks after the first dose, with a minimum interval of 8 weeks between the second and third doses.

However, the most crucial aspect is that the third dose must be administered a minimum of 16 weeks after the first dose to ensure adequate immunity development. This timeframe allows the body sufficient opportunity to respond to the vaccine and establish a proper immune response.

In this scenario, since the child has not received the initial doses by age 11, adhering to the minimum intervals becomes paramount in ensuring optimal vaccination coverage. Therefore, for a child who has never received the hepatitis B vaccination, the third dose should be administered at least 16 weeks after the first dose to properly comply with the guidelines set forth by health authorities.