controversial and been thinking about it, any opinions? It's regarding the Hep B vaccine

[wishforchange]

I have decided to accept the new healthcare job if I pass occupational health.  Will tell them this week.  So here is the controversial question.  I had one shot of the hepatitis b vaccine for my last job, and then flatly refused to return for the others, despite great pressure and of course fear of the risk of contracting the illness.  The reason was this.  Some hours after the shot, for the first and thankfully only time in my life, I went temporarily blind.  I was travelling home and my vision blurred over then went and came back.  I felt terrible.  I managed to get home but as I reached my front door my vision went again.  I was terrified.  I wanted to call an ambulance but felt so bad I never got that far and ended up collapsing at home.  I didn't wake up until late the next afternoon.  On waking I felt okay and as it was the weekend just rested and was fine.  On the Monday I told occupational health what had happened and they said that this could not possibly have been anything to do with the vaccine, it was just a coincidence.  I did some reading and found that there is some controversy over this vaccine and its rare result of visual problems, and that it has even been linked to the onset of MS in susceptible people.  This all happened a few years ago.  I do to date have episodes of blurred and double vision, but have never lost my sight since.  I know that I will now decline any offers of the vaccine, as this experience was so terrifying.  I also know that many thousands of people working in healthcare have it with no problems.  Was this incident really just a coincidence?  I knew nothing of the side effects of the vaccine before having it so it was unlikely to be psychosomatic.  I know there are some people with great medical knowledge here, and who have likely had the vaccine themselves for their work.  Worried I'm being too controversial here, and will understand if people are reluctant to answer.  Can't decide which risk is greater, the risk of getting hep b or of losing my sight?  Happened so long ago I'd forgotten about it, but with this new job it will be raised again as an issue for sure.

[LLWB]

I also was offered the heb b vaccine for my job, in fact it might even have been required, can't remember. I had the series of injections, with no problems at all. Sorry you had such a reaction. If I were you I would probably decline the injections if possible. But that's just my opinion. Good luck with new job!

Maggie

[6-paq]

I'm really glad to hear that you accepted the new healthcare position!  

As for the vaccine, can you just decline and say that you had a reaction to the first injection?

I wish you well!

Take care, Pat :)

[Quixotic1]

Well, all I can do is present you with info.  

The optic damage seen with the vaccine is immune-mediated.  It takes 2 to 3 weeks to develop.  The reaction you had sounds like an immediate, "vaso-vagal" repsonse to an injection - a near faint - but without loss of consciousness.

I looked up the visual effect of the vaccine.  All of the reports were single case-reports.  Reports of single people who had suffered some kind of eye inflammation 2 to 3 weeks after receiving the vaccine.  I found just as many, or more reports of people suffering permanent eye damage from Hepatitis B itself.

The link to causing MS was raised by the French a decade or two ago.  There were dozens of huge studies looking at it mostly in Europe who have huge population, medical databases.  The claim was totally debunked!

So, it appears to me that the chance of developing eye problems is rare with the vaccine, but occurs also with the disease.  The thing you describe would not fit into the reactions that are described.  It is always your choice to decline a vaccine.  Whether this can affect your place or position of employment, I don't know.  I certainly wouldn't want Hep B.

Ultimately it is your decision.

Quix

[wishforchange]

Thanks for comments and suggestions.  Quix you made a good point about the onset of the reaction being so soon after the vaccine.  When I got home I did collapse unconscious in the hall, and so the visual problems were probably the precurser to that.  It has made me think twice about whether or not to try the vaccine again.  This job is working with the public, but not high risk (eg before I was working in operating theatres, and unprotected), so it may be less important this time to have the jab, but I'm sure it will be suggested.  Have bigger hurdles to surmount regarding getting clearance from occupational health.  I've been honest about my problems so they will definitely want to talk with me.  I have to be realistic re jab in that it is so widely given and most people are fine with it.  It was just the vision loss was so frightening when it happened, and the thought of it happening again panics me a bit, even if it is just temporary.  Need to think this one out when the time comes.  And maybe look more into the research myself, didn't really examine all the data too carefully first time round.  Still have my 'Athens' account activated so can look up medical papers etc.  Thanks for calming me down on this one.