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Going to Indonesia. Hep A?

post #1 of 7
10/27/11 at 3:32am
Thread Starter 

Hi! We are going to Indonesia for a month in March 2012 with DD and DS (they will be 18 months and 4.2 years). I've just gotten them their MMR 2 weeks ago and they have had their polio, tetnas, diptheria, pertusis and Hib as per the schedule here.

 

Recommended for Indonesia is Hep A, but I've also read that the symptoms are "usually" not visible in children under 6 years of age. I am considering the Havrix vaccine for Hep A since it looks ok, but I feel a little wary of one more injection for DS in his little body. DD got to wait for her MMR (till 3.8 years) but with the impending travel I got him his MMR now (13 months).

 

Our nurse recommended Twinrix (Hep A+B) but that looks a little scary and I don't see why children need Hep B and it requires 3 shots as opposed to 2.

 

Any thoughts mamas. Thanks!

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post #2 of 7
10/27/11 at 10:01am

Skip the vaccine and hope they get hepatitis A naturally, gaining strong lifetime immunity instead of temporary, weak vaccine immunity.

 

Then, they'll be protected during adulthood, when it can be serious.

 

Let us know if we can come over for a hepatitis A party. winky.gif

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post #3 of 7
10/27/11 at 12:43pm
Thread Starter 

I am leaning toward not getting it at this exact moment, but I'm a little worried about 30% of children who do have symptoms. I read about a 3 year old who was sick for a month. Being sick at home is one thing, but being sick in Indonesia while I'm on call at a birthing clinic is another...

 

Sigh...

 

 

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post #4 of 7
10/27/11 at 10:16pm

30% with symptoms does not mean 30% with severe, long lasting symptoms. The worst cases are going to naturally be in the minority, but those are the ones you'll read about. You're not going to read about the 3 year old who got hepatitis A and had a low fever and loss of appetite for a few days or a week.

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post #5 of 7
11/1/11 at 3:46am
Thread Starter 

Thanks. We are skipping it for them, but getting it ourselves.

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post #6 of 7
11/2/11 at 12:05pm

For $59 you can get a hepatitis A total antibodies test through DirectLabs to see if you are already immune. https://www.directlabs.com/Home/tabid/36/language/en-US/Default.aspx  The $59 is the total cost per person. It includes the doctor's prescription, the blood draw, test, and results.

Quote:
Originally Posted by foodmachine View Post

Thanks. We are skipping it for them, but getting it ourselves.

 

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post #7 of 7
11/21/11 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
We live abroad so I don't think that test will fly here, but I'll check if there's an equivalent. Thanks for the heads-up!
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