Hep B vaccine in the 1980's

[pozhealthy]

did anyone get the Hep B vaccine back in the 1980's when it was made from the blood of donors who had it and may have had other things not identified as of yet? I swear that is how i acquired HIV.  I got a terrible CMV infection shortly after my series of injections and was in the hospital for a few weeks. I was white as a ghost and my energy level was non existant.
Did anyone else get this vaccine and end up getting HIV from it?
Just wondering.

[rondrond]

I received the Hepa B Series Vaccine in 1988 as required for healthcare workers. I worked for the Texas Department of Mental Health/Retardation with juvenile offenders.

I was diagnosed in 1993. Though I am a 'good' person by some of societies norms, I did live the lifestyle of a normal,  young, gay, man living 'la vida loca' of the 70's and 80's. That said, I do not worry about how I became infected, it happened.

I also believe that by 1988 they had already identified the problems with the Hep B vaccines, before I was vaccinated, so, once again, I don't consider it.

[J.R.E.]

Hi,

No, I received both my Hep A and Hep B series shots in the mid 90's, which was also about ten years after HIV infection.

I wonder if the Army did these vaccinations in 1971. I don't remember. If they did. I probably received them when I was in the Army also.

Ray

[joemutt]

I was in a vaccine trial for hep B at the Institute for Tropical Medicine in Antwerp
in the 80's. I tested poz only in 1997 though, to go on meds immediately.
Now you got me wondering.

[lforsyth]

I had Hep B in the mid 70's and donated blood that was in the group the vaccine was developed from.  The State of California tracked me down from San Francisco to Los Angeles and finally to Mesa Arizona where I was living in 1984.  They wanted to re-open my blood from the 70's and needed my permission. My guess is that they were trying to find out how far back HIV really went.  I never heard back from them.

In the 80's my friends and I read the CDC findings about the Gay Plague when it was published in the News papers.  We all decided that we were probably infected given our way of life in the 70's and early 80's.  We all were and I and one other survived the others.  I've even survived my entire family who thought they would be taking care of me.

I don't blame anyone there are five different guys who could have infected me, not to mention the anonymous contacts at the tubs back then.  At least I had fun but I do miss my friends.  It's a bit difficult to make contact now as many guys don't want to be involved with someone who is poz.