HepB question

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med-Surg, gynecology.

Quick question....I am starting nursing school next Monday, and still need to finish up my HepB immunizations. I've had the first two, and was told to wait at least 11 weeks before receiving the 3rd. Tomorrow (Thursday) will mark 10 weeks since my last shot, and I would really, really like to just get the 3rd one tomorrow and be done with it, as tomorrow is my last free Thursday before school starts (the clinic I've been going to only gives the HepB vaccine on Thursdays, for some reason).

I know nurses can't give medical advice, but what are your thoughts about getting that last shot a week early?

Thanks to all who reply!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I don't know the physiology behind the medication, but I'm sure it has been tested and tested and tested. I doubt they arrived at their timings for administration lightly.

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown and CVSICU.

i was like you and wanted to get my 3rd hep b shot a week early before clinicals to get it out of the way, but when i went to the clinic to get it, they sent me away and told me to come back after 11 weeks. so you may as well wait...

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This post is very interesting to me since I just received my second dose of HepB yesterday afternoon and I am scheduled to get my third dose 6 months later, not 11 weeks later. Hmmm, I wonder why the difference in timing for the same vaccine?

Shanyone

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I would wait. I also was told to come back to get my 3rd shot 6 months after my 2nd one. You can get the 3rd one pretty much anytime. One of my classmates had his 3rd shot 1 year after the 2nd.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Vaccines are not benign materials, they are medicines and they reasons for the way they do it. You could have a bad reaction, etc. My friend had a horrible reaction to the HepB vaccine after his 2nd dose (throwing up for days, fever, etc) so it is not anything I would mess around with.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We do not know your medical history and as you pointed out, no medical advice is given in allnurses.com. Please ask this of your health care provider, who IS privvy to your medical history and knowledge of these vaccines and can legally advise you.

Thank you.

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