Is Hepatitis A travel shots needed. If i was already given these shots before.?

My children are 4 yr and 6 yr old. Their immunization record indicates that they had been given hepatitis A shots before(2 entries for both of them) as part of their immunization schedule.

Do they need newer hepatitis-A shots for travel to India now?

My daughter just got her hep A vaccination. The doc told me it was good for 40 years....so check into it yours may still be good.

Are you sure it is Hep A they recieved and not Hep B. Hep B is what they should have recieved for their immunizations. I would also check with their pediatrician and go with their advice for travels overseas. Have a safe trip with the kids and enjoy.

Preventing Hepatitis A Infection While Traveling

Although hepatitis A is becoming more common in developed areas such as the US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, it occurs much more frequently in areas of the world that are less developed, such as Central America and Africa. The risk of infection increases with length of stay, visits to rural areas, and eating in places that likely have poor sanitation, such as food stands on the street or restaurants that appear not to be kept clean.

Unfortunately, since we can never know for sure where the virus lurks, even the most cautious tourist can be unavoidably exposed. Most episodes of infection are spread by infected food handlers who might not yet have any sign of illness. By failing to wash their hands adequately after a bowel movement, such disease carriers can spread the virus to food in the preparation and serving process. Transmission can also occur by drinking water that has been contaminated by sewage, or by eating contaminated raw shellfish.

For protection, travelers should receive a hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immune globulin (previously called gamma globulin), which contains antibodies against the hepatitis A virus. The vaccine is given as a single dose, preferably at least two weeks prior to travel, although the vaccine should still offer protection even if given just before departure. The initial injection can be followed by a booster dose in 6-12 months with resulting protection estimated to last 10-20 years. Side effects have been reported to be minimal and include local soreness at the injection site, headache and fatigue.

Since immune globulin is not a vaccine, the antibody levels it confers will decline with time. For the greatest protection, this injection should be given close to the time of departure, ideally within 3-5 days. Depending on the dose given, this protection can last from three to five months. Immune globulin shots are given in the buttock and usually are associated with minimal local side effects, such as soreness at the injection site. There is no evidence that immune globulin can transmit any disease, and it can be safely given to pregnant women. At various times in the last few years immune globulin has been difficult to obtain due to manufacturing shortages.

Persons who are known to have had hepatitis A in the past already have antibodies to the disease - which means they are immune - and do not need further protection. A blood test is available to confirm this immunity if uncertainty exists. Frequent or long-term travelers should definitely consider receiving the hepatitis A vaccine rather than immune globulin.

Gary P. Barnas, MD
Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine

No vaccinations are required for travel to India.



Do not get vaccinated. There is no scientific proof that the theory of vaccination is valid, yet there is considerable proof that Vaccines cause illness and death.

Just sit back and think about it for a while. Does it feel like sense to inject a disease directly into your bloodstream?
The way to avoid disease is to strengthen the immune system. Vaccination weakens it.


The Vaccination Hoax
http://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html

A Detailed history of vaccination
http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/vaccin...