Hep B vaccine? Do I need it?

B

badatmath

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Joined
Aug 22, 2017
Messages
2,273
Pharmacy always says I should get hep B vaccine but I vaguely recall asking doctor a couple of years ago and they said no, I didn't need it.

(Not traveling or using any illict drugs and am Female) though it sort of looks like it is recommended for all?

I even thought I had asked here before but can't find the thread so maybe not.

I get that the pharmacy tries to upsell me of course.

Would I have had this in childhood? The shot I mean, not the disease?

Bonus question: Will it make me sore to get it?
 
Last edited:
CDC HBV Guidelines

Very unlikely you would have had if you grew up in US and led a relatively quiet life. Guidelines go over risk factors. If you were ever pregnant and had prenatal care they would have tested to see if you ever had and your status. Cut point is 60 in Guideline. Yes if below and no if 60 and low risk.

Sore arm common. Information on risks available. Generally well tolerated.
 
My wife and I got it last year. We do a lot of international travel and just felt better being vaccinated. Besides, our insurance covered it so it was free. Shoulder had a slight soreness to it, nothing more than a regular flu shot.
 
We have all that stuff, even Yellow Fever, because of international travel. But why not just call your Doc and ask?
 
Yeah under 60.
It seems it is recommended for "all" between 19-59 which doesn't seem to match the more risky behaviors that I'm not doing is why I wondered . . . .
 
OldShooter said:
We have all that stuff, even Yellow Fever, because of international travel. But why not just call your Doc and ask?
Click to expand...
I was just scrolling here and looking at the paperwork they handed me while I procrastinate doing the next thing on my chore list for the day.

I'll ask at next visit if I still remember and no one has a compelling reason I should or should not take it.

I noted the price of the covid shot and it is no wonder they want me to take vaccines geez. . . $196 for one.
 
ClarkeK said:
My wife and I got it last year. We do a lot of international travel and just felt better being vaccinated. Besides, our insurance covered it so it was free. Shoulder had a slight soreness to it, nothing more than a regular flu sho
Click to expand...
Ditto. Prior to going to Cuba twenty years ago or so the physician that my spouse worked with highly recommended that we get Twinrix (Hep a b) and keep our tenanus shots up to date since we planned more international travel.

I had a physical last year and mentioned that we were planning a trip to Morocco. First thing the MD did was look up my on line vax records to check for those shots. She highly recommended them.

My spouse already had this requirment as a health care professional.

We both updated our tetanus vaccinations when we had a last covid booster. Not a big deal to get the jabs and stay on the safe side.
 
When I was with ARCO, I did a fair amount of international travel in very strange and remote places. I was inoculated for everything, I guess, and had to carry a bag of "goodies" in case I got some weird disease. Not sure if hep B was in the cocktails or not, but I'll bet it was.
 
We got the Hep A/B vaccine before we went to Egypt in 2022. When I was in the Navy long ago, I got vaccinated against all sorts of nasty diseases.
 
Last edited:
I got my Hep A and B shots in my late twenties. My husband got his a couple of years ago in his 70s.
 
Pharm said nothing about hep A only B and I had no idea until upthread they could/should be combined so I guess I will ask at my next appointment before just booking one.
 
I got my Hep B vaccine since I do a lot of international travel. I got the combined HepA and B with a total of three shots.
 
I worry about food borne Heb B but my doc has never suggested vaccination. I'll ask again this year.
 
badatmath said:
...Would I have had this in childhood? The shot I mean, not the disease?...
Click to expand...
It's a simple blood test to see if you already have immunity to Hep B. Here is the description of the test from Jason Health.
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Immunity, Quantitative

Hepatitis B Surface Ab Immunity, Qn, Hepatitis B virus surface Ab, Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Immunity, Quantitative

This assay is used to determine immune status for Hepatitis B as ≥10 mIU/mL as per CDC Guidelines.
 
Seems like the food one would be a lot easier to catch and no one has recommended I get that.

I checked the state I went to kindergarten in and it is not a required vaccination for school even now and probably wasn't back then either.
 
HepB vaccine is given within 24 hours of birth, as a first dose of a 3-4 dose series and has been for 30 years. It is a low risk vaccine with few if any side effects. Most states require for daycare and school.

Hep B is incurable. I would get the vaccine, especially if you are traveling to China or southeast Asia, and get the combined HepA and HepB vaccine. Those areas have the highest rate of chronic infection in the world. Is is a blood borne infection, and also is sexually transmitted.

One other thing, to test for one's full immune status to Hepatitis B, a panel includes three tests: Hep B surface antibody (HBsAb), Hep B core antibody (HBcAb) and Hep B surface antigen(HBsAg). If you are HBsAb negative, you could either be not immune or chronically infected. The antigen test determines which.

Hepatitis B Foundation: Understanding Your Hepatitis B Test Results

This page contains information to help you interpret the results of your hepatitis B blood tests.
www.hepb.org www.hepb.org
 
badatmath said:
Seems like the food one would be a lot easier to catch and no one has recommended I get that.

I checked the state I went to kindergarten in and it is not a required vaccination for school even now and probably wasn't back then either.
Click to expand...
Hep A is less prevalent here in the US, Hep B is more common but harder to catch. I got the Hep B vaccine back in the 90s when I was an EMT, and since on the rare occasion that a bad accident happens while I'm there, there's a chance I'll be getting blood on me helping the victim(s), I keep it up to date. I didn't get the Hep A vaccine until I went to Tanzania. But, as others have alluded, there's always the chance of a freak accident exposing anyone to Hep B.
 
silvor said:
Docs will always say to get the shot even if you really don’t need it.
Click to expand...
When we went to a travel clinic prior to going to Africa the staff brought up a map and asked us exactly where we planned to go. Then the MD recommended the shots.

Included in that appt was a list of what certain countries required for entry. As I remember at the time South Africa's included yellow fever. We had to take our vaccine record card with us in case we were asked for it on enty. We were not. Same for several other African countries.
 
EastWest Gal said:
HepB vaccine is given within 24 hours of birth, as a first dose of a 3-4 dose series and has been for 30 years. It is a low risk vaccine with few if any side effects. Most states require for daycare and school.

Hep B is incurable. I would get the vaccine, especially if you are traveling to China or southeast Asia, and get the combined HepA and HepB vaccine. Those areas have the highest rate of chronic infection in the world. Is is a blood borne infection, and also is sexually transmitted.

One other thing, to test for one's full immune status to Hepatitis B, a panel includes three tests: Hep B surface antibody (HBsAb), Hep B core antibody (HBcAb) and Hep B surface antigen(HBsAg). If you are HBsAb negative, you could either be not immune or chronically infected. The antigen test determines which.

Hepatitis B Foundation: Understanding Your Hepatitis B Test Results

This page contains information to help you interpret the results of your hepatitis B blood tests.
www.hepb.org www.hepb.org
Click to expand...
I'm a lot older than 30. :)
 
badatmath said:
I'm a lot older than 30. :)
Click to expand...
Heh, heh, aren't we all?

Are there any significant side effects or other downsides to the A&B vax's. I was thinking that these would preclude one from giving blood for a while. I could well be wrong on that so thought I'd ask.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Tetanus Vaccine
GalaxyBoy
GalaxyBoy
Jerry1
Anyone on Medicare have a very expensive prescription?
2
sengsational
sengsational
B
shameless ask for praise for walking
2 3 4
badatmath
B
A
Menopause - No one told me... - book recommendation for all ages
Amy T
A
Midpack
My Prostate Cancer Journey...
2
Midpack
Midpack

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom