Hepatitis B vaccine

Is Hepatitis B vaccine really necessary?

Renoir Vanheken
Post Count: 23

Msg: #1 97 weeks ago, February 17th 2008

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Republican Republic in a month, a trip to Europe in May and another trip to Vietnam and Thailand next January. I will go to the vaccination clinic this week to get hepatitis A vaccine. I wonder if I should also get hepatitis B vaccine. I heard that you can get hepatitis B from sex and drug. I don't do drug and I may or may not have sex (it all depends on circumstances, being single, as I might if I meet a nice woman) but if I do I would use condoms. So do I need Hepatitis B vaccine under those circumstances?

Thanks,

Renoir

Stephanie and Andras

Stephanie and Andras
Post Count: 263

Msg: #2 97 weeks ago, February 17th 2008

I would get a Hep B vaccination just to be on the safe side. It's a very common, safe vaccination with few side effects (it is now required for all U.S students and healthcare employees and is part of the standard vaccination regimen for children). Hepitits can also be spread through blood transfusions and improperly sanitized needles, so in the rare instance that you find yourself needing medical care, having a Hep B vaccination will provide you peace-of-mind if you end up at a less-than-ideal medical center.

So, do you NEED one? Probably not. Would I RECOMMEND one? Yes.

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 15222

Msg: #3 97 weeks ago, February 17th 2008

Hello Renoir :)

I heard that the Hepatitis A and B vaccines are available in a convenient all in one dose. So u might as well get both if there is not a huge price difference between getting just the Hepatitis A one and both.

Mel

Renoir

Renoir Vanheken
Post Count: 23

Msg: #4 97 weeks ago, February 17th 2008

Thanks for your answers. I read this afternoon that Hepatitis B can also be transmitted by saliva. I could get it by just kissing somebody! I guess I will go on the safe side and get Hepatitis B, even though I am a bit concerned of possible side effects.

Renoir

Mikey M

Mike Meggiato
Post Count: 325

Msg: #5 97 weeks ago, February 18th 2008

Renoir i had a whole heap of injections before the trip im on now and no side effects, i was crazy before the injections.....lol

be safe and get it

Thx Mike:)

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 15222

Msg: #6 97 weeks ago, February 18th 2008

The only side effects I had with the vaccinations was a stiff arm for a day with one(I forget which) and I had a whole bunch of rabies vaccinations after I was bitten by a monkey and some left bruises on my arm which went away.
The Malaria protection I took when I went to India 10 years ago had the most annoying side effects of anything I ever had because they lasted 2 weeks. Lucky I started taking them 2 weeks before my trip so the side effects had a chance to wear off.

But as far as I know Hepatitis is not a killer disease so even if u did not have the vaccination u would likely survive it. But I think the damage the disease could possibly do to your body would be worse than the side effects of the vaccinaion. But I really think the Hepatitis B vaccination is optional. I have not yet had it. But I think next time I get a Hepatitis A shot I will get a Hepatitis B one too because of the all in one shot. I dont think that was available when I got the the Hepatitis A shot.

Mel

[Edited: 07:37 - Mell ]

Stephanie and Andras

Stephanie and Andras
Post Count: 263

Msg: #7 97 weeks ago, February 18th 2008

I just got a Hep B booster a few months ago and experienced none of the possible side effects (the most common being soreness in the arm and mild fever). Even as far as a sore arm is concerned, the Hep B shot is NOTHING compared to things like a tetanus shot or pertussis vaccination. Like all vaccines, there is the very rare chance you could be allergic to it, but since you'd be getting the shot from a medical professoinal, if anything were to happen they would have the tools to provide immediate aid.

Unlike Hep A, which causes an actue infection from drinking bad water/food and then goes away, Hep B can and does cause chronic liver failure in a significant number of individuals that contract it. Once you have end-stage liver disease, your only hope is a liver transplant. So, again, nothing to fool around with.

(Sorry for the soap-box, but I'm currently working in a liver transplant ward and I see so many people admitted to the hospital with complications from Hep B, it's just not worth the risk, even if your risk is very low)

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