posted
I'm supposed to get hepatitis A&B vaccinations before I go on my mission. I've heard, though, that the whole series takes 6 months. I don't have 6 months. My doctor told me at my physical that I didn't need the hepatitis vaccines, but of course now they say I do, so I'm trying to figure out a way to get them, to afford them, and to be able to leave on time.
Do you know if there are public vaccine places.. or something... that give them cheaply? I guess I should get the first ones right away, even if I don't have 6 months, I should at least get started, right?
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
You need one hepatitis A shot before you go. You are supposed to get a booster hepatitis A 6-12 months later. For most people, that means after return from their trips. Since you will be there two years straight... I guess you'll have to ask the people over there if there is a way to get the second shot over there. In any case, you certainly can go to Japan with only the one shot reguardless of whether you can get a second shot over there. We don't make people sit around for 6 months so they can get their second hepatitis A shot.
Why would you need hepatitis B? As long as you don't share needles, have unprotected sex, or work with sick people or around blood products, you shouldn't be required to take it. Are lds missionaries whose missions are in the US required to have hepatitis B? If not, you shouldn't need it, either. If you do take the hep B shot, btw, you start with shots now and another in 1 month and another in six months.
Cheapest way to get shots is through the public health department. They have the best up to date information on vaccine requirements, also.
I always look at the cdc site too. Do you know what parts of Japan are in your territory? Cities mostly, or will you be in very rural areas? Check out this CDC site for East Asia, please:
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My daughter started her Hep series right away but finished them in the MTC. Since you're going to Japan, you're not as much at risk for hep as if you were going to South America (or Ukraine ) so you can probably finish the series in country.
Unfortunately, since you're over 18, you'll probably have to pay for the vaccines yourself. Most local health departments do not provide any travel vaccines, and most insurance companies do not cover them. It's pretty much an accepted part of the cost of travel. Look for a community clinic that operates on a sliding fee scale based on income for the lowest cost vaccines.
Theca is like most physicians who refer people to the local health department (me, on Maui) for vaccines. We can tell you what you need, and give you advice on where to get them, but we only provide them for children under 18 and certain high risk groups. I suspect Montana is the same. There just isn't enough money in our budgets to provide travel vaccines to everyone.
Posts: 2069 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Another possibly cheaper option is to get the hep A vaccine at the pharmacy yourself (with a prescription) and then take it to whatever place will give you the cheapest price to administer it and document it for you.
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The Florida Department of Health gave my son a Hep A shot for free, but only provides them free for minors. I suspect most state health departments have the same policy. We tried getting a prescription from his physician and filling it at a pharmacy - at first the pharmacy said they would do it, then backed off. They said the minimum order is 5 doses, and they don't have much call for it, so they didn't want to spend the money to order it for us. So we went to the DOH clinic.
The rationale I have heard for getting Hep B vaccine for going to certain countries is that some countries don't have the same standards of safety for protecting against bloodborne diseases, if you must go to a clinic or doctor for emergency care. I was told this by a health department nurse. I suspect that will not be a problem in Japan, especially if you are spending most of your time in Tokyo.
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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I had my A/B shot in the same vaccine. I believe I had my first, then the second a month or so later, and a third a year later. The third time was the only time I've ever had a shot and didn't feel a thing. I wish I could go back to that nurse every time.
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
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The Hep B shot is given on the schedule you describe, EL, but for Hep A the second shot is given 6 months later.
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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I had the same as what EL had - TwinRX in Canada. I think it cost me around $60 CDN per shot.
Annie, you can probably get shots 1 & 2 in the US and get the third one in Japan when the time comes for it. You'll still recieve some protection from the first two shots, but would definitely be better off with the whole series.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I'm still trying to figure out if it's Theca. If it's not, impersonating someone like that is sort of against the rules.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
) so you can probably finish the series in country.
