Please help me understand the HEP A vaccine?

sohappy14 · May 2012

I am due to get my lo's 1 year old vaccinations this week and they usually give 3 shots(MMR, Chicken Pox, and Hep A) I am prob waiting on the Chicken Pox and MMR vaccines for now until my son is about 2 years old. My question is Are we vaccinated as aduklts for HEP A?? I never was vaccinated for the disease I do not believe and I have been fine... What about all the people who were born before 1995? I dont want to give a shot that is not need at this time... What did you all do with your 1 year old shots? Thanks

dannie2011 · May 2012

Lurker here, I'm passing on the Hep A vax and chicken pox vax. Here is a little of my reasoning.

Vax have an average life of 10yrs, yes sometimes they last a lifetime but mostly they only last 10yrs. The peak of effectiveness will have worn off by the time the child's needs it the most. I don't think getting hep B or A as a baby is smart unless they will be exposed to it. The US/Canada is not a high risk area. In fact Canada does not have Hep A on their list of Vax, Hep B is not given till the 7th grade because kids are not at risk before then. They want the child to be fully protected by the time they are trying new things. I have heard before from our Pedi here in the US that their reasoning to give it so early is that the parents don't bring the kids in later for their shots. I will be getting the Hep b shot for her in the 7th grade.

For chicken pox I want my child to get it naturally if she doesn't get it before she is a teen I may get the vax then. I don't want her getting the vaccine as a baby and have the effectiveness start wearing off in her teen early 20 and then getting the virus. This is what is happening more often because the vax cannot last a lifetime. And Doctors still do agree that getting the chicken pox virus is still better protection then the vax. All 4 of my older kids got chicken pox at the same time my youngest was 6 months. I'm still immuned from having chicken pox as a child. Can't say that about some with the Vaccine. My niece got chicken pox at 18 then due to complications from the virus she developed mono, and then kidney problems. Yes it was due to the vax wearing off and they don't have a set schedule to give booster for these vax.

Most adult are not vaccinated against Hep A or B.

MMR she will be getting at her 1yr appointment.

If you really want to see what you are still immune to ask your doctor to do a titres test it will show what protects you still have from your vax.

And since I'm a Canadian living in the USA my research and reasoning comes from 2 Countries and also from having 4 older kids who are fully vaccinated on the Canadian standards. 2 where born before 1995 and 2 95 & 97, none of them got the chicken pox vax or hep A.

Anyways, this is my thoughts and our Pedi has no issues with it at all.

tokenhoser · May 2012

We just got 1 year shots today. Chicken pox was in with MMR, so if you want to skip it make sure your office carries one without it. Personally, chicken pox was one of the most miserable weeks of my life and I am thankful modern medicine can spare my child (and me) that agony.

I got the Twinrix vaccine as an adult; hep A is food-borne, so I actually see more of a point for it than for hep B.

We're just vaccinating on schedule (for Canada).

JenniferMatos · May 2012

I asked my pedi about not getting the chicken pox one b/c I thought it would be better for DS just to get it naturally and she gave me two reasons of why he should get it. One it's required for school now and two as more kids are getting vaccinated it is more difficult to get it naturally as a child when the virus is pretty mild so they may go until they are an adult before they get it and it be more serious. My husband and I agreed that was more likely a case for DS since it's required for school in AZ. HTH

InfinityDreamer · May 2012

We too are waiting on chicken pox and MMR. If my kids have not yet been exposed to these diseases by the time the are adolescents then we will vax at that time. The same goes for Hep B, as I find it unlikely that they will be engaging in illicit drug use or promiscuous sex during infancy or early childhood.

I myself have had the Hep B vaccine because I worked in the healthcare field several years ago and was exposed to questionable blood and bodily fluids on a daily basis.

Hep A is spread through contact with contaminated food. If you are a family living in a high risk area (I know you can check this somewhere) and you tend to eat out quite frequently this may be worth looking into once your child is consistently eating out with you.

Want a personalized experience?

Please help me understand the HEP A vaccine?

Re: Please help me understand the HEP A vaccine?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards