Why don't they suggest everyone get Hep A vaccine?

[Anonymous]

I got it for travel recently, and was curious, why isn't this part of the normal group of shots people get? Any doctor types know?

If it weren't for my trip, I would have never thought to get it, but it seems like a good thing to have...

[Anonymous]

It's on the schedule for kids. I don't think it's very harmful to adults, though.

[Anonymous]

I got it once years ago for travel, and my recollection is (maybe this has changed, though) that it doesn't last very long - only a year or two. So you'd have to be getting it as frequently as a flu shot for it to really protect you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got it once years ago for travel, and my recollection is (maybe this has changed, though) that it doesn't last very long - only a year or two. So you'd have to be getting it as frequently as a flu shot for it to really protect you.

That would be typhoid not Hep A.

Hep A is a two part vaccine- booster dose 6 months after the first. You want the first at least 1 month before travel to high risk areas.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/PDFs/HepAGeneralFactSheet_BW.pdf

Whether or not a booster shot is required later in life is not yet known and not currently recommended.

[Anonymous]

At the time I was getting the Hep B vaccine, as an adult, I opted to get the combination shot with Hep A (called Twinrix), to take care of both at one time.

[Anonymous]

At our pediatrician's office it is optional but I have had both my kids receive the vac. since we go to Mexico every year. This was at the pediatrician's suggestion.

[Anonymous]

My nasty SIL had hepatitis from being, yup, dirty. As suspected. HURL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got it once years ago for travel, and my recollection is (maybe this has changed, though) that it doesn't last very long - only a year or two. So you'd have to be getting it as frequently as a flu shot for it to really protect you.

That would be typhoid not Hep A.

Hep A is a two part vaccine- booster dose 6 months after the first. You want the first at least 1 month before travel to high risk areas.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/PDFs/HepAGeneralFactSheet_BW.pdf

Whether or not a booster shot is required later in life is not yet known and not currently recommended.

Actually, no, it was Hep A. But it was decades ago, so perhaps things have changed.