Hepatitus B

I am starting with a homehealth agency, taking care of the elderly, should I be vaccinated? If I wasn't what could happen to me? If I had the vaccines, would it protect me?

[Bill1954]

There are no doctors here; only patients dealing with Hepatitis C.

If you haven’t already been vaccinated for Hep A (HAV)or Hep B (HBV), make sure you discuss this with your doctor and either get vaccinated, or ask him to order a HAV/HBV titer to see if you are already protected via previous exposure.

There is currently no vaccine available for Hep C (HCV). If you are exposed to a hepatitis virus, you could become infected and possibly become ill, or in worst case scenario, eventually die from liver failure.

The vaccines can protect you from HAV and HBV, assuming you develop protective antibodies. Ask your doctor about confirmation of antibodies after the vaccine. The vaccine given for HAV and HBV for adults is best known as the Twinrix vaccine; it will be a series of three injections, taken over a six-month period. Your county health department can often provide them for little or no money if you live in the U.S.

Good luck with your new job—

Bill