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Hi i want to ask one quetsion. I migrated from Pak to USA 6 months back. I gave hepatitis B 1st shot on 15th may, 3rd on 15th June and 3rd shot was due on 15th dec but i was out of town so i didn't vaccinated it, can i give my last shot know? It's been a month now. TIA
Hepatitis B vaccine
<http://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/> is a safe and
effective 3-shot series that protects against the hepatitis B virus. If
you do not have a current hepatitis B infection, or have not recovered from
a past infection, then hepatitis B vaccination is an important way to
protect yourself. The recommended schedule
<http://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/> for
the hepatitis B vaccine is to receive the first shot, followed in one month
by the second shot. Six months following the first shot, you should
receive your third and final shot of the series.
If you wish to ensure you have generated adequate immunity, and are
protected, you can have your anti-HBs (HBsAb) titres checked 4-8 weeks
following the last shot of the hepatitis B vaccine series. If your titer
is greater than 10 mIU/mL, then you have adequate immunity which is thought
to confer lifetime immunity, but studies *so far* show 30 years. This is
because these studies are *on-going*!
Please note that checking anti-HBs titres is not generally recommended for
all vaccine recipients, with the exception of those that are at greater
risk of infection. This includes but is not limited to health care
workers, those with sexual partners with hepatitis B, and those living in a
household where someone is infected. Talk to your doctor if you think you
might be at higher risk
<http://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/>
need to have your titres checked.
So what happens if you go for shot one, followed by shot two in a month,
but you never get to shot three? The *minimum*length of time between the
three shots in the series is 0, 1 month, and 6 months. There is an
accelerated schedule, but this is the schedule recommended for the shortest
amount of time, with the best immune response for the general population.
However, if you don’t get to shot three of the series for another two
years, or if you never got to shot two, you can *resume right from where
you left off*, and continue without the need for repeating the series.
Here is a rule to remember the *minimum*time in between shots in the series:
*Dose 2 should be separated by dose 1 by at least one month (4 weeks or 28
days)*
*Dose 3 should be separated by dose 2 by at least 2 months (8 weeks) AND
from dose 1 by at least 4 months (16 weeks).*
Keep in mind that the goal is to get people protected in the shortest
amount of time, with the fewest number of doses. If you do not complete the
series, you will not have adequate, longterm protection from hepatitis B.
What happens if you don’t have your vaccine records, and you have no idea
if you ever got shot 1 or 2, and you just want to repeat the series? There
is no concern with repeating the HBV vaccine series, so if you are unsure,
please start the series from shot 1.
Be sure you and your loved ones vaccinated are against hepatitis B so you
can be hepatitis B free for life!
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