The low-down on hepatitis vaccines

Dear Dr. Roach: I live in Los Angeles, and have recently seen articles in the local paper about an outbreak of hepatitis A in the area. I went to my hospital and requested the hepatitis A vaccine. I got the first of a twoshot vaccine, and was told to come back in six months for the second. I asked the nurse how long it would protect me after the second shot, and she didn’t know.

My next question involves the hepatitis B vaccine. In 1991, I took the three-shot series of the hepatitis B vaccine. When getting my hepatitis A shot, I asked if my hepatitis B vaccine was still good after 25 years. They drew blood to check titers. A week later, the hospital emailed me and said my titers were low and to come in for a booster shot, which I got. Why didn’t they give me the series again instead of a booster? How long will the booster shot protect me?

Are they working on a vaccine for hepatitis C? A vaccine seems like a good precaution for people to take, in this day and age. What do you think? — D.A.S.

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travelers to areas with high rates. Two doses are administered, with the second dose six to 12 months after the first.

For the current outbreak in San Diego, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for homeless individuals; staff and public workers who have close contact with homeless or illicit drug users; and food handlers for adult populations. The rate of hepatitis A in the U.S. and Canada is small enough that it is not necessary for people with no risk factors to get it.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults. There is progress on a hep-C vaccine, that would be a major advance and more cost-effective than the current treatment, which cures almost all who have hepatitis C but is very expensive.

Write to Dr. Roach at ToYourGoodHealth @med.cornell.edu.