Hepatitis B vaccination

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 4, 2019

Are you asking how long it is effective when you complete the series?

seericap · Oct 4, 2019

1 hour ago, Pixie.RN said:
Are you asking how long it is effective when you complete the series?

Yes

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 4, 2019

34 minutes ago, seericap said:
Yes

For most people, they are good for life once the series is complete. The CDC has vaccine information sheets with great info, the Hep B sheet is here:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.pdf

seericap · Oct 4, 2019

1 hour ago, Pixie.RN said:
For most people, they are good for life once the series is complete. The CDC has vaccine information sheets with great info, the Hep B sheet is here:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.pdf

Thank you

Quota, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2019

At some point a doctor told me about 10 years. I finished my HepB series back in ‘96 and as of 5/2017 titers I still have immunity. So it depends on the person.

seericap · Oct 5, 2019

1 hour ago, Quota said:
At some point a doctor told me about 10 years. I finished my HepB series back in ‘96 and as of 5/2017 titers I still have immunity. So it depends on the person.

Hmm ? I hope mine last longer than 10 years the last one I got was in ‘98

Cali_RN18, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2019

I had my last vaccine in 96' . When I got my titer done for nursing school I needed a booster done. I second it has to do with each individual's immune system.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2019

If you got it in childhood, you have a better chance of it sticking.

Some unfortunate people (like me) just don't respond at all and never get immune, or lose immunity really quickly. I didn't get my hep B vax until I was 40 though.

Quota, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2019

I’d buy that logic. I was in my teens when I finished the HepB series and still have good immunity as of last titers in 2017, so 21 years later. I’d be willing to bet I still am so 23 years later...

BSNbound21, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2019

If you need to prove immunity for school or a job you will have to get a titer. I had the series as a child but am currently about the get the third shot in a second series b/c I am not immune. If you are working around blood products and needles and haven't had the vaccine in a number of years, it's in your best interest to get a blood titer and ensure that you're immune.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 6, 2019

18 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:
If you got it in childhood, you have a better chance of it sticking.
Some unfortunate people (like me) just don't respond at all and never get immune, or lose immunity really quickly. I didn't get my hep B vax until I was 40 though.

I have that problem with the varicella vaccine. It wasn't around when I was a kid, our parents just had "chickenpox parties" when one kid on the block got it. I never did get chickenpox, and after the vaccine and subsequent boosters, my titers are always equivocal. I have cared for patients with chickenpox and still haven't had it. I give up!