|
Here's what you can do to prevent or
reduce your chances of getting hepatitis:
Preventing Hepatitis A (HAV)
Vaccinate. Immunization of children (1-18 years of age) consists of 2 or
3 doses of the vaccine. Adults need a booster dose 6-12 months following
the initial dose of vaccine. The vaccine is thought to be effective for
15 - 20 years or more. Vaccines to prevent HAV infection prior to
exposure provide protection against the virus as early as 2 - 4 weeks
after vaccination.
Other people who should be vaccinated include:
-
Users of illegal injected
drugs.
-
Restaurant workers and food
handlers.
-
Young people living in dorms or
in close contact with others.
-
Children living in communities
that have high rates of hepatitis.
-
Children and workers in day care
centers.
-
People engaging in anal/oral
sex.
-
People with chronic liver
disease.
-
If you eat raw shellfish
frequently, ask your physician about being vaccinated.
-
Laboratory workers who handle
live hepatitis A virus.
Common sense hygiene. Hands should
be washed with soap and water following bowel movements and before food
preparation.
Traveler precautions. People who travel to developing countries where
sanitary conditions are poor should be vaccinated two months prior to
departure. For those exposed to HAV, immune globulin (IG) should be
given as soon as possible and no later than 2 weeks after initial
exposure.
Preventing Hepatitis B (HBV)
Vaccinate. Safe and effective vaccines can prevent HBV. Safe and
effective vaccines provide protection against hepatitis B for 15 years
and possibly much longer. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends that all newborns and individuals up to 18 years
of age and adult participating at risk of infection be vaccinated. Three
injections over a 6-12 month period are required to provide full
protection.
Newborns exposed to HBV at birth by an infected mother should receive
Hepatitis B immune Globulin plus the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine
within l2 hours of birth and two additional doses of vaccine at one and
six to twelve months of age.
All children and adolescents should be vaccinated since most cases of
HBV occur in sexually active young adults. Those who engage in high-risk
behaviors should be vaccinated as well.
Everyone who handles blood or blood products in their daily work should
be vaccinated.
Practice safer sex (use latex condoms). If you have hepatitis, or if you
have more than one sex partner within a six- month period, you should
consider vaccination. Unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to
HBV infected persons through unprotected sex or contact with infected
blood or body fluids should receive an intra-muscular injection of
hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within l4 days of exposure and the
hepatitis B vaccine.
Don't share! If you are a user of injected drugs, never share drug
needles, cocaine straws, or any drug paraphernalia. No one should share
anything that could have an infected person's blood on it (e.g.,
toothbrush, razor, nail clipper, body piercing instruments, etc.).
Handle blood spills correctly. If there is blood spill, even a small
one, clean it up with a 10% solution of household bleach (believed to
kill the virus). Wear protective gloves.
Preventing Hepatitis C (HCV)
There is NO vaccine to prevent HCV. Vaccines for Hepatitis A and B do
not provide immunity against hepatitis C (although those who are HCV
infected should receive both hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination).
The source of HCV infection remains a mystery in about 10% of the cases.
That means preventive measures are your first line of defense against
HCV.
Preventive actions for HCV are the same as for hepatitis B.
HEPATITIS VACCINATIONS
Hepatitis A Vaccination
Is the hepatitis A vaccine safe and effective?
The HAV vaccine, made from inactive hepatitis A virus (synthetic), is
highly effective in preventing the hepatitis A infection when given
prior to exposure. However, its safety when given during pregnancy has
not been determined. Currently, the hepatitis A vaccine is NOT licensed
for children less than 1 year of age in the U.S.
Who should be vaccinated against hepatitis A?
just about anyone is a candidate to get hepatitis A; however, those at
higher risk for hepatitis A include: users of illegal drugs; individuals
who have chronic liver disease or blood clotting disorders (e.g.,
hemophilia); those who have close physical contact with people who live
in areas with poor sanitary conditions; men who have sex with men; those
who travel or work in developing countries; and children in populations
that have repeated epidemics of hepatitis A (e.g., Alaska natives,
American Indians, and certain closed religious communities).
What is the dosage regimen?
Recommended dosages and schedules vary with the patient's age and which
specific vaccine is used. Whether you are a child over 1 or an adult,
more than one shot is needed for long-term protection. Check with your
doctor or nurse to determine how many shots are needed and when to
return for the next dose. The vaccine provides protection about four
weeks after the first injection; a second injection protects you longer,
possibly up to 20 years. Twinrix, a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine
may be given to those over 18 years of age.
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe and effective?
Yes. The hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1982. Use of
hepatitis B vaccine and other vaccines is strongly endorsed by the
medical, scientific and public health communities as a safe and
effective way to prevent disease and death. Hepatitis B vaccines have
been shown to be very safe when given to infants, children and adults.
Could vaccinations eradicate hepatitis B?
Eradication of hepatitis B is possible through a comprehensive
vaccination program. The way to do this is to make sure all newborns,
children under 19, and adults at risk are vaccinated against HBV.
Who should be vaccinated?
All newborns and children up to the age of 19, especially adoptees; all
individuals living in the same household with a chronically infected
individual; those who are in positions where they are exposed to blood
at work, through drug use, or who have multiple sex partners; and
individuals with hepatitis C and other chronic liver diseases should be
vaccinated for hepatitis B.
Why is it so important to vaccinate children against hepatitis B?
Parents and guardians are encouraged to have their children vaccinated
at an early age to prevent the serious complications that can occur when
youngsters under the age of five are infected. HBV, a sexually
transmitted disease, is100 times more infectious than HIV (the virus
that causes AIDS).
What is the Vaccines for Children program?
The Vaccines for Children Program provides free hepatitis B vaccines to
young people under the age of 19 years who are on Medicaid, have no
insurance or whose insurance does not cover immunizations.
Can the babies of infected mothers be vaccinated?
Yes. All newborns, especially those whose mothers are HBV-infected,
should get three vaccination shots for hepatitis B – the first within 12
hours of birth, the second at 1-2 months, and the third at 6 months. In
addition, babies born to infected mothers should receive a shot called
HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) within 12 hours of delivery. All
women should be screened for hepatitis B surface antigen during
pregnancy to determine if they are a carrier (chronically infected) of
HBV. Without the above intervention, 90% of babies born to infected
mothers will become chronically infected, reducing their life
expectancy. It is safe to vaccinate pregnant women.
What is the dosage regimen?
HBV vaccines require three injections to obtain long-lasting immunity.
Hepatitis B vaccine is given as an intramuscular injection, and can be
given to children at the same time as other vaccinations. It can be
given in a number of schedules, each of which provides excellent
protection. For infants, vaccination should begin at birth. A second
dose at 1 month of age and the third dose at 6 months of age may be
given. |
