a and b shots question

i had my a and b first shots june 22 after biopsy a week before.......i am geno 1...stage 1 to 2 ...grade 2...got my shots down in portland..2.5 hours away..so i told the nurse that i would get shots at our local heath center...they don't have the second shot stuff and told me to order it and they would give me the shots..well it's 480 for a 4 shot minimum...so i have two questions...first how much time do i have to get the second shots???? and  is there some place to order one shot at a time???? thanks....billy

[JodyLynn]

Second shots? Ya have to get more than one? I went to the county health dept last week for my a and b shots because all the docs around here are out of a, anyway they told me it would be a 2 hr wait to get them, i was so out of breath and weak from my treatments i couldnt stay and wait. I will try again this weak. How many shots do i need???

[tiedyd]

My hep tests showed a previous exposure to B, and positive for C.... They told me to get vaccinated for A ( since I tested totally negative for it). The nurse told me that the A vaccine is 2 part, one now, another in 6 months.

[working dog]

thanks...the 6 month thing on the a sounds great..although i need the b too so if anyone has info on that it would be nice to here...billy.

[copyman]

B vacs:
2nd shot 1-2 months after first, 3rd shot 4-6 months after 2nd. then test a few months later to check for antibodies to make sure it took.

[JodyLynn]

When i was 16 i was in the hospital for a week with iv's for what i thought was hep a....but my aunt told me i had hep b....the shots wont hurt me will they?

[bamasangel1119]

I have had both series of the Hep. A and Hep. B vaccines. If you have Hep. C, it is very important that you get both series, as contracting another form of Hepatitis could be deadly for someone who already has chronic Hep. C. As stated above, the A vaccine is a series of 2. You get the first one and then the second one 6 months after the first. The Hep. B is a series of 3. First one, then the second one 2 months later, the third one should be administered 6 months after the first vaccine.

I had the whole series of both in 2000. I wasn't tested for titer until last year by my new gastro and found out I only developed immunities to Hep. A. So, I just completed the series of the Hep. B vaccine again this summer. I went to get tested for titer again last week and I am hoping this time it worked. Two of the nurses in my PCP's office aren't immune, either. They both took the Hep. B series twice and still did not develop antibodies.

The health dept. is the least expensive place to get the vaccines, if your insurance does not cover them.

[livindabest]

   This another good to time mention  the V.A. is covering hep. and all health issues at very little (if any) cost to any Veteran honorably discharged.  I got the hep.c Dx. , 2 ultrasounds ,the Biopsy and A/B vaccination series , all at no charge .  If i decide to treat , the meds will cost me about  $20. a month.  I just like to make sure all vets. know of  this healthcare option.  Just contact your local V.A.clinic . They also will help with transportation if treatment is not nearby.
                                   Aloha,,
                                              Rick.  

[tobywankenobi]

I just recieved my first set of a and b here in Atlanta, but what I was wondering is how they could be out. Are'nt the a and b shots part of the immunization process for children to get into school, so the local heath department should have them. Please if anyone knows for sure, tell me I am wrong. I am wondering??

[bamasangel1119]

Yes, they are required for children to attend school, but here in AL, only certain health dept.s will give the shots to adults. Smaller counties are only allowed to give the immunizations to children younger than 18 or 19 yrs. of age. Bigger counties will give the shots to adults and they are less expensive than getting them at the doctor's office. I don't know about other statess, but that is how it works in Alabama.

[tobywankenobi]

I see, it varies state to state as to recommended vaccinations. That seems pretty stupid to me, but who am I?  I was told by some one that if I contracted Hep A or B it could kill me being stage 3. Do you think that is true? Thanks!  

[bamasangel1119]

My gastro told me when I was first diagnosed to get the vaccines for both A and B. At that time, my Medicare wouldn't pay for the immunizations, so I had to pay for them myself. My gastro even wrote a letter of necessity to Medicare, which he stated that if I contracted Hep. A or B, it could be deadly, so yes, I think it's true.

I agree that the fact that it varies from state to state what the health dept. and Medicaid cover is stupid, as well. But, here in Alabama, they don't care what I think.....