How many get Hepatitis B shot?

Old Jan 24th, 2007, 06:08 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How many get Hepatitis B shot?

I am traveling to Morocco in April 2007. My doctor has recommended shots/meds for:

Tetanus
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B

I have no problem with the first three but based on all my readings and research the Hep B seems like overkill.

I am wondering how many actually get immunized for Hep B?

thanks
NJriverchick is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 06:32 AM
  #2  
sandi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Hep B is recommended for those volunteering for Peace Corp work, or for an NGO; any long time stay in a country with contact with locals (refugee camps), or those who intend to participate in unsafe sex. If you don't fall into any of the above categories, as a general rule, Hep B, isn't required.

However, there is a recently (few years now) new inoculation which combines Hep A/B, believe it's called Twinex; some travelers do get this.

Once you have Tetanus and Hep, you should be set for the next 10-years.

I'm not a doctor, and don't pretend to be. It's important you research all information out there, print out what is needed and discuss with your physician, based on your personal health history.
 
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 06:36 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I travel frequently and have received all of those shots. What do you mean by overkill (is it the price?).
thit_cho is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 06:58 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thit_cho~ when I say overkill it is not a matter of cost....it's because I am not a health care worker, not going into the Peace Corp and do not match any of the criteria for those who generally would need to get it.

I will be in Morocco for only two weeks, sight seeing and staying in city hotels. I have no objections other than I dont think I will need it.

On the other hand, maybe my doctor was thinking of the combo inoculation that Sandi was mentioning.

NJriverchick is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 07:02 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd had the tetanus booster so got the typhoid and the Twinrex series for hep A&B, not because of the dangers from unsafe sex but on the off chance that I'd come in contact with blood from an infected person -- accident, medical treatment, etc.

Getting just the A or the combination was my choice so I figured I'd go for more protection since I'll be doing a lot more traveling and the shots are good for several years.
Luisah is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 07:07 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
All I can say is if my doctor recommended an innoculation, I would discuss it with him, or if I didn't like his advice, I would contact another healthcare professional. You will only regret not having gotten the shot if you contract Hep B (and as unlikely as it may be, I just don't see any downside to getting an additional shot). Maybe I am overly cautious, but you only have one liver, and while I sometimes drown mine in booze, I do try my best to protect it from hepatitis (no matter what the letter).
thit_cho is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 07:22 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hep b is transmitted through blood. if you're going to be exchaning bodily fluids with someone overseas it is a good idea.

i do agree that dr.s tend to over recommend, especially those dr.s who are reading these things off a chart and who are not part of a overseas or tropical medicine clinic.

i have worked and traveled in many developing countries for long periods mingling with the local population and i have not had the innoculation, but could definitely see many instances during which a stranger's blood could get on you without person to person contact.

i think your decision not to get it is a "calculated risk" but if you are in the dr.s' office anyway, or if they are offering the shot sandi mentioned, why not just get it?

kerikeri is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 07:34 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok, well obviously I have to find out if my doctor is planning on giving me the Twinex. In that case it'a no-brainer.

otherwise I will still have to think this through a while...think about the calculated risk as kerikeri says.

hmmmm, what to do... what to do...?
NJriverchick is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 08:00 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's a hint after you get the B series. Have your titer levels checked. I got the B series for work several years ago. When I had my titer levels checked, I was found to not be protected. A small percentage of people do not receive immunity from the vaccines due to genetic makeup.
atravelynn is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 08:36 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In my very humble opinion, from my experience as a firefighter, and I only mention this because it was helpful info to the students in our outreach and CPR classses that we taught thru the FD, Hep B is bloodborn pathogen, and can survive, on a dried surface, for up to a week. Unlike another bloodborn disease, HIV, which is dead almost the moment it is exposed to the outside air/temps.

Again, I am not a doctor, nor pretend to be. This infomation can be found online on several sites, I copied this line from http://www.hivandhepatitis.com

"HBV (hepatitis B) can survive outside the body at least 7 days and still be capable of transmitting infection."

The dried HBV infected substance would have to come in contact with your blood - like thru an open wound, for instance, on your hand. And even then, you would lessen your chance of infection with good handwashing and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (purell, etc)

Certainly, this still leaves the decision up to the individual whether or not to get the vaccine.

This was meant to be helpful, and not a lecture - best on your travels to Morocco.
Local2542 is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 08:52 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My family and I have all been innoculated for those you listed - tetanus, typhoid, hep a and b - and yes, it did come in a mixed version called Twinex. (My husband has even been dosed for Malaria!) None of us had any trouble w/ these injections - including our daughter who was innoculated. We have traveled through many countries and appreciate knowing we're well protected. And, no, we don't participate in any risky behaviors - unless you inlcude eating street vendor's food stuffs! Have fun!
julieinred is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 09:18 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I still haven't read, in any of these posts, a reason why one wouldn't get the innoculation, especially if recommended by a physician. With respect to my health, I'd rather be overcautious than cavalier. But maybe there is an adverse reaction, but if so, that hasn't been stated.
thit_cho is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 10:05 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I leave for Maroc today. I have a tetnus but other than that my doc just gave me Cipro in case I come down with anything.
laartista is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 10:52 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My basic recommendation would of course be to follow your Doctor's recommendations. He's trained at balancing the pros and cons of such things.

The main downside I see to getting the Hepatitis B shot is that it could give you a false sense of security. Even if you get the shot, you don't want to be swapping any body fluids.
ann_nyc is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 10:57 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My doctor advised me to get Hep A and B shots without me going anywhere. Maybe you too have a health condition to put you in a risk group?
FainaAgain is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 11:23 AM
  #16  
sandi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Thanks goodness, these days, there is enough information available for non-professionals to be able to discuss this subject with some sense of intelligence with our personal physician or a tropical deseases specialist.

There is no one answer. As we've read often, there are some physicians that don't seem to know the difference between Malarone (and Malox), or Lariam (and Lorazepam). Okay, so we seek information and go with a slew of printouts with the hope our physician has the time to discuss with us.

It's not a matter of being cavalier about our health. If Hep A&B, Tetanus, Thyphoid, Yellow Fever was all that important to have for our basic survival, we'd all be inoculated and our health plans would pay willingly... they don't (most often and we've read that regularly also).

For someone who is traveling for 2/weeks to Morocco, as a tourist NJriverchick asks a good question. Does she need all the inoculations? Tetanus and Hep A make sense even at home, Thyphoid and Hep B, really don't.

NJriverchick, has our input, resources from where she can obtain more, it's now up to her and her physician.

Michael - you probably travel more than any of us, it only makes sense you've been and should be pricked with everything available.

 
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 11:26 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My HMO paid. Oh, gosh, I'm feeling very sick already what's wrong with me that my insurance paid
FainaAgain is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 11:34 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sandi, are you going to the New York Times Travel Show at Javits at the end of February?
thit_cho is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 01:28 PM
  #19  
sandi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Michael -

Thanks for asking, but I don't walk convention floors any more. Reminds me of my life before doing what I do now. Reminds me of those darn marble floors at Macy's Herald Square or Bloomies - great buildings, but hell on the legs/feet... same at a convention center regardless how much carpet they put down. Call me a woooze! Have fun! Hey, we still have to "do lunch/brunch."
 
Old Jan 24th, 2007, 01:39 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sandi, probably best to reach me at [email protected] and we can schedule brunch (hopefully you'd be willing so suffer through some photos -- I'm running out of willing participants beyond the ages of 5 and 7).
thit_cho is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -