Hep B Vaccine

[woodshere]

Had my quarterly dr appt yesterday.  Asked about getting the Hep B vaccine?  He said definitely, but I should wait until my cd4 count is higher (currently 267) so that the odds of it taking are greater.  Good advice or should I go ahead and start.  And yes I am very sexually active, so I take a chance everytime.

Thanks
Woods

[JPinLA]

Hey woods - I started the Hep B vaccination series with CD4 290..not to much different than yours really and my doc said that should be perfectly fine for me to develop a good antibody titer.  I would think that it's worth the risk of it not taking.  Just my opinion.  Good luck (and it is a good idea!).

JP

[woodshere]

Yeah, that is kinda the way I am leaning.  However if I don't develop anitbodies, can I take it again?

[JPinLA]

Yeah, I think so.  I think you go through the series, see of you develop a titer and then give you a booster series to see if it takes again. 

[trellium]

FDA just recently approved accelerated dosing schedule for Combined Hep A & B (GSK's TWINRIX) vaccine.
Previous dosing schedule took 6 months and was given at 0, 1, 6 months.
New accelerated dosing schedule compresses all 3 shots into a 1 month period at 0, 7, 21-30 days followed by a recommended booster dose at 12 months. 

Might wanna check with doc whether the new accelerated dosing schedule can also be applied to the sole Hep B (GSK's ENGERIX-B) vaccine too since it’s the same component in TWINRIX.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2007/040607_a.html

[MoltenStorm]

I had to get both Hep A & B vaccines twice because apparently when I received them 4 years ago, they didn't take because they didn't show up on the tests (I'm assuming a test for antibodies). After I tested poz and started seeing my current doctor, he had me get both again.

[Buckmark]

Woods,

I have the Hep A + B series of vaccines when my CD4 counts were in the 300 range.
Not terribly far away from yours.  Fortunately, mine "took".  I suspect you have a good
chance too.  My doc ran a Hep A + B antibody test almost a year later, to verify.

Of course, since I haven't had sex in forever (years) it is all somewhat moot for me
(but hope springs eternal).  I think  the vaccines are a smart precaution for anyone
who is sexually active (or a wannabe like me).

Cheers,

Henry

[gaz41]

People react differently to the vaccine , i had my first course when my were similar to yours , didnīt take, the 2nd course didnīt take either the 3rd course my numbers were over 400 and my doc gave me a double dose of the vaccine and then i formed antibodies

so its a case of wait and see

all the best

Garry

[aupointillimite]

I got the Hep B vaccine in 1998 or so... it was right after the damn thing came out, I remember that.

I did get a test to see if I still had antibodies to it in 2005 after diagnosis... and I did. 

I had no reactions to it whatsoever... and when a couple of guys I know in Richmond turned yellow from the damn thing... I was very happy I'd gotten the shots. 

Go for it whenever your doc says to... one less thing to worry about.

[Strayboy74]

I had the hep A & B series, taken at the same time,  apparently my body developed antibodies to Hep A but not Hep B.  So, recently, I finished a second vaccination against B.  My TC's were at 325.  I'm fine.

-joseph