Adult Hep B Vaccine Timing Question

[LaurenAnanas]

Last summer I voluntarily started the HepB vaccine series for work (I work in health care and visit dialysis units regularly) and got the first two shots.

Now is the time when I would have gotten the third shot...but I'm 17 weeks pregnant. I wouldn't have started if I'd known I'd get knocked up, but, well, life happens. :)

Will it matter if I postpone the third shot until after the babe is born? Is there an effective time limit on completing the series? I don't want to get the shot while pregnant, I don't want to get the first two again, and I do want to have the vaccine.

Anyone know?

[Otto]

If the vaccine series is interrupted after the first or second dose of vaccine, the missed dose should be administered as soon as possible. The series does not need to be restarted after a missed dose.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2006/hepatitis-b.htm

[ETA.--Given the minimum intervals in the basic schedule, I read "as soon as possible" to be on a timescale of months, which is to say delaying another six or so months doesn't seem like it should be a major problem. See also here.]

Edited by Otto - 11/16/10 at 1:02pm

[LaurenAnanas]

Thanks!

[shelleyd]

I had the first two shots and never followed up with the third.  This was about twelve years ago.  I recently had titers checked for nursing school and I'm immune after just two shots twelve years ago.  You might want to consider checking your titers before you get the third shot.