Hep B "within 7 days"?

[APBTlover]

My Google skills aren't flowing tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but until then, maybe some of you ladies have some info stored up for me.

My husband's work brings him in possible contact with medical waste... He showed no immunity to Hep B when he began this job, and was "encouraged" to get the vax. (I guess he got it as a child... anyone know if they were routinely giving it in the 80s?) Anyway, we talked and he ultimately decided to decline.

Today he was doing some online tests required for employees, and one of the questions/answers asserted that, if jabbed with a needle, he MUST get "the Hep B shot" within 7 days. I thought they must mean immune globulin, but my search turned up several sites like this one, which says BOTH the vax and immune globulin are recommended within 7 days. Of course it also says anyone vaccinated "no longer has to worry about being infected," and I know that's not exactly true.

Why would they recommend a vax within 7 days of exposure? Are they claiming the vax will work AFTER exposure? Or are they just trying to slip in the vax when the person is in a fear state? Any bits of info would be welcome!

[JBaxter]

Its NOT the Hep B vaccine. Its the Hepititis B Immunoglobulin. Its given post Hep B exposure to keep you from contracting it. If he would get splashed with unknown blood or have a puncture wound of unknow origin then you get the immunoglobulin.

[APBTlover]

But several of the sites explicitly recommend BOTH the IG and the vax?

[Fyrestorm]

The recommend the vaccine after the immuneglobulin as a preventative so this doesn't happen again.

They do the same with Tetanus in an un or under vaxed person. They give the TIG and the vaccine to "catch you up"

[In Exile]

Oh the topic on Hep B: Can someone point me to credible source on the "life expectancy" of Hep B in air?? Just wondering, say Person A has contracted Hep and has an accident. Blood is being spilled-what are the conditions for Hep to infect someone? Air temperature, duration, anything like that? Just wondering because my hubby is getting literally harassed at work to get the Hep B shot (accident investigation). Veiled threads of not "letting the investigators onto the an accident without the Hep B Shot". Just wondering about credible medical evidence to show propability of contraction of Hep B on accident sites. Anyone???