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Should I Get Vaccinated For Hepatitis-A Before Travelling To Countries Where There May Be Exposure To Certain Illnesses?
Posted on
Thu, 5 Jul 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 5 Jul 2018
Answered on
Mon, 27 Jun 2022
Last reviewed on
Question : I think I had the Hepatitis A vaccine about 40 years ago. I'm going to be traveling to several of the states that are involved in the current outbreaks. Wikipedia says the vaccine is thought to be effective for life. Is that true, or should I get vaccinated again?
Brief Answer:
would not last that long in some persons, developed in 1995
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The vaccine can last a long period of time in some persons but there is no guarantee.
The hepatitis A vaccine was approved by the FDA in 1995, there may have been an earlier vaccine but there is little information on an earlier vaccine, this means that there is a chance that the vaccine that you were given was not hep a.
You would need to consider re vaccination.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
would not last that long in some persons, developed in 1995
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The vaccine can last a long period of time in some persons but there is no guarantee.
The hepatitis A vaccine was approved by the FDA in 1995, there may have been an earlier vaccine but there is little information on an earlier vaccine, this means that there is a chance that the vaccine that you were given was not hep a.
You would need to consider re vaccination.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If I received HAV vaccine in the mid-1990s, would your answer be the same?
Brief Answer:
May have received it since it was first given in 1995
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If you received a vaccine in the mid 90's then it is possible that it could have been hep a since it was first given out in 1995.
As stated above it can last a long time in some persons, and if you did receive it in 1995 or there about, it is possible that you may still have some protection
The CDC states that the antibodies (formed as a reaction to the vaccine) can be found up to 20 years in adults who received the 2 dose schedule. This means that it may be present for you.
It states that it is possible based on a study of the possible decrease that may happen during the years, that it may persist for longer that this.
Regards
May have received it since it was first given in 1995
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If you received a vaccine in the mid 90's then it is possible that it could have been hep a since it was first given out in 1995.
As stated above it can last a long time in some persons, and if you did receive it in 1995 or there about, it is possible that you may still have some protection
The CDC states that the antibodies (formed as a reaction to the vaccine) can be found up to 20 years in adults who received the 2 dose schedule. This means that it may be present for you.
It states that it is possible based on a study of the possible decrease that may happen during the years, that it may persist for longer that this.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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