Hepatitis B is an epidemiologic problem worldwide, with high mortality associated with acute and chronic liver damage and cancer. Chile has a low prevalence rate (under 2% of the population) but there has been an increase from 1.03% in the year 2000 to 1.52% in 2001. The groups with higher prevalence rates being men that have sex with men, persons living with HIV, health care workers and in previous surveys, children with multiple transfusions. In Latin America the impact of HB infection is significant, there is an uneven distribution, with endemic areas of high, intermediate and low prevalence, even in the same country (eq. Brazil). The development of HB vaccines is one of the most cost effective and safe strategies of immunization, inducing long lasting immunity (> 10 years). Its impact has been great in countries where neonatal vaccination has been implemented and the goals of WHO/PAHO and more recently GAVI are directed to the universal vaccination of this aye group. To achieve these goals, problems of access and cost must be solved. In Latin America the use of the vaccine is in accordance with the epidemiology of the HB infection. Some countries like Brazil, have vaccination programs while others like Peru recommend and support it, but application is voluntary. In others it is restricted to population groups at risk. In our country HB vaccination was initially recommended to health care workers and other groups of risk. Later these recommendations were broadened to include students of the health care area and we are now evaluating its application in other groups