Conference moira::parenting

    I am not sure what the state mandates, here in Massachusetts it is not
    required. I am however, aware of how contagious hepatitis can be and
    am speaking with my pedi today to get both my 5 yr old and 12 yr old
    innoculated.
    
    Hepatitis in its chronic form can be totally debilitating. I was told
    by a nurse that boosters are definitely needed. Especially when kids 
    start to become more social and are exposed to others in the school or
    college. If I speak with my doctor today, I will respond again.
    
    Harriet

    my daughter had her first one in the nursery and her second at her
    2 month check-up.

    My son's college recommended them, and our Dr. gave him the first this
    summer, the second after 1 month, and he will get the third and final
    booster when he comes home at Christmas.

    I can't remember WHERE I heard this, but somewhere very recently I
    heard or read (maybe it was the Drs office?) that the Hep-B shot was
    mandatory for any child entering 1st grade in 1998? or later.  This was
    in NH.
    
    I just called my pedi, and they said that for infants, it goes;
    
    birth
    2 mos
    10mos
    
    OR 
    
    2wks
    2mos
    10mos
    
    For adults, it's 1 shot, and then another shot in 1 month, and then the
    last shot 6 mos after the FIRST shot.
    
    She also said that if you break up the series (waiting too long in
    between shots)then you're not completely immunized 
    
    This was Matthew Thornton. 
    
    Good Luck!
    patty

Be careful here not to confuse HiB and Hepatitis B

The first, Haemmophillus (sp) influenza type B (HiB) is given specifically
to infants 2 or 3 times  ... and Hepatitis B can be given to anyone.

HiB only attacks young children prior to age 5 ... and is required for
school ... whereas Hepatitis B immunization is not normally required.
Hepatitis B, like Meningitis shots, are only normally given if you are
in contact or likely to be in contact with Hepatitis ... e.g. during
outbreaks.

It is VERY COMMON for all kinds of people to confuse HiB, Hepatitis and
Meningitis (less so).

Stuart

    Make sure if getting the Hepatitis B, you stay w/in the time
    guidelines, if not, as Patti mentioned, it is not effective, and the
    shots need to be done all over again. 
    
    AmL

    re .4  .... the Hepatitis B shot is becoming VERY routine, and I'm
    really ~90% sure that I saw that this will be a required shot for
    school in the upcoming years.  Not confused with HiB, which has been
    required for quite some time.
    
    Two years ago, when Jonathan was born, I was told that it's a "normal"
    shot now, and was certainly led to believe that it'd be a BAD idea to
    not do it.  I don't see any reason to expect that a baby would
    necessarily be more exposed to hepatitis than anyone else - I think
    it's just gotten SO widespread these days, that they're trying to
    prevent the problems .... my brother had it many many years ago, and it
    took him almost 2 years to feel "healthy" again.
    
    YMMV

    Patty,
    
    One of the reasons for the hepetius b shot now, is that hep B and
    nona/nonb hepetitus are the fastest growing STD's in the country. 
    (Something we tend to forget with HIV being the publicized STD of this
    decade)  This is a big reason that colleges are pushing the
    innoculations.  (Also like HIV hep b and nona/nonb are transmitted
    through blood/blood contact, and you can (rarely) through any blood
    products, such as a transfusion; catch it from sharing needles, etc.)
    
    Given that there is no cure for hepetitus B and that it can be fatal, I
    think the shot is a good idea. 
    
    meg

    
    
    My kids are 2 and 4 and the hep B shot was recommended, but not 
    mandatory (I live in NH).  We declined.
    
    -b

    Thanks for all the answers.  I'll check with my pedi again today.
    It looks like one month after the initial shot is the consensus.
    
    re: .4,
    I meant Hepatitis B, not Hib.  I was told that in Massachusetts
    it will be mandatory for the kid going to the kindergarten the
    upcoming year.  
    Currently the insurance covers the youngsters up to the
    sixth grade, but the coverage will be avaiable to older kids soon.
    ( according to my nurse )
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Kyungae

    HepB shots are mandatory for infants in AZ and strongly recommended for
    teens, but children who are already in school (like my 7 year old) are
    suggested to wait until they are 14 or so.  My newborn had his first
    dose of the HepB shot at 2 weeks, with #2 coming next week with his
    regular 2 months shots.  I believe that they will administer the final
    dose at his 6 month checkup.  It would seem that there's a couple of
    different methods out there for this one, and many different laws.
    
    Regards,
    
    M.
    
    
    

The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccinations for travelers to certain areas.
We got it before we went to Moldova.

    HEP B shot was voluntary but strongly recommended in MASS.  Two days
    after my daughter was born the nurse came in and gave us some
    literature to read and a consent form to sign if we chose to have it
    done.  We did, and she got her second one at her 1 month or two month
    can't remember now??
    

    I have a friend who was thought to have Hepatitis, not only is there
    Hep A, B, and C which was called nonA, nonB, there is now new
    classifications being I believe D and E. 
    
    She let me read a brochure she had gotten and basically after seeing
    the list of things that may or may not be the source of hep it
    concluded that in a large number of cases they do not know how it
    was contracted.
    
    I called my peditrician and she suggested that the twelve year old be
    innoculated this year.
    
    

    
    Several years ago I gave blood at one of the Digital blood drives. Some
    time later I received a note in the mail from the Red Cross telling me
    my blood tested positive for the Hepatitis B antibody.  They said there
    was nothing for me to worry about but I probably wanted to be retested
    by my own doctor (and that they didn't want my blood anymore.) My
    doctor's blood test confirmed the results.  What they explained was
    that somewhere along the line I was exposed to Hep B. It is usually
    through sex or needles. They said not to worry (ha!) because everyone
    would want the Hep B antibody and there is no risk to me or anyone else 
    now. At that point I had infertility for 4-5 years and had a zillion blood 
    tests and needles poked into my body as well as some surgeries and 
    In Vetro Fertilizations. Did it result from here? My husband was tested 
    and was negative.  At one point a year before I discovered this I had a 
    period of about 3 months where I was incredibly tired all the time. The 
    doctor blew it off as depression because of all the things I was dealing 
    with at the time; even though I told her I wasn't depressed (I bet many
    have heard that before from a doctor.) Now I think it was the Hepatitis.  
    While I can never determine how I became exposed I think it was through 
    the dentist I used at the time. He was ready to retire and didn't have
    "modern" practices.  We switched to someone else. It turned out ok for me 
    but the whole experience was very scary.  
    
    Joe Mokely the congressman from South Boston recently had a liver
    transplant.  He believes his liver failure resulted from Hep (can't
    remember if it was Hep B) he was exposed to on a trip to China years ago.
    
    When my son was born in '93 we didn't hesitate a second on whether to 
    have him get the shots.
    
    Kathy