Twin Rex vaccinations

[Awoke]

We'll be travelling abroad. Should we or shouldn't we get the Hepatitis Vaccinations?

I haven't had a vaccination for anything other than tetanus for 30 years. I never planed on it. But I have spoken to some people that travel south and they have all got me paranoid about Hep.

What would GSus do?

[Dogman]

Do you like playing the odds? What kind of gambler are you. Bunch here are anti vaccination , but I hold that there are some very nasty micro critters in the world and such, that vaccinations do protect against.
,
What kind of gambler are you?

So do you feel lucky?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnMLGkj91Og

[Awoke]

I am one of those guys that has things happen against all odds. Sometimes good things, sometimes bad things... but if a man were to have something happen to him and the odds were against it, that man would be me.

[Dogman]

I am one of those guys that has things happen against all odds. Sometimes good things, sometimes bad things... but if a man were to have something happen to him and the odds were against it, that man would be me. Vaccines and kids, I have mixed feelings about, vaccines and adults I do not. Sure there are risks, always have been and always will be. But in general they work for the vast majority of people and do save lives. Tho others on the forum think and believe otherwise. I have traveled overseas and unlike most, I got down and dam near embedded with the people of the country's I was in. And not stay in high dollar places and ate safe food and such. I would eat what they ate, drank what they would drink. And every time would get sick as a dog, at first, it could not be avoided but that was part of adapting.

In the long run, being fully vaccinated and current in the protection, I do believe fully that saved my bacon, more than once.

Awoke, there is shit that you do not want to catch!

Now the question is yes or no. If you go to that country and stay at places that cater to foreigners and eat western or westernized food, and drink safe water and such. Also if you will not have any contact with any lower class , or common people , or very limited physical contact. plus not spend much time in country.

Then maybe you have nothing to worry about.

Again it boils down to the question, what kind or gambler are you?

[hoarder]

Should we or shouldn't we get the Hepatitis Vaccinations?Not no but hell no.

[dys]

If I'm not mistaken Hepititis is transmitted the same way AIDS supposedly is: by sex or sharing needles after shooting up. Unless you plan on visiting the local brothel or heroine den, I wouldn't get that vax.

dys

[Awoke]

That's Hep C. (Like AIDS)

The other strains you can get from a tainted ice cube, etc.

[Dogman]

That's Hep C. (Like AIDS)

The other strains you can get from a tainted ice cube, etc. Drink bottled water, also make coffee or any drinks you drink with bottled water. That is usually the safest way, most places even the natives do not drink from the tap. Also be wary of signs saying only filtered water is served, If it is not reverse osmosis or treated to make safe.Stay away. Mileage may vary.

[Cebu_4_2]

Watch out for lettuce and salads, usually washed with tap water. Avoid shell fish too. I was not in the least worried about Hep but ended up with the shits syndrome while in Asia and brought it home, lasted 5 weeks total. When I did see my doc for something else he told me I should have died from the stomach bug.

About Hepatitis

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/images_74862/1132688271460.PKT_lea-enEspanol.gif (http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/infecciones/hepatitis_esp.html)
The word hepatitis simply means an inflammation of the liver without pinpointing a specific cause. Someone with hepatitis may:


have one of several disorders, including viral or bacterial infection of the liver
have a liver injury caused by a toxin (poison)
have liver damage caused by interruption of the organ's normal blood supply
be experiencing an attack by his or her own immune system through an autoimmune disorder
have experienced trauma to the abdomen in the area of the liver

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by one of three viruses:


the hepatitis A virus
the hepatitis B virus
the hepatitis C virus

In some rare cases, the Epstein Barr Virus (which causes mononucleosis (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/mono.html)) can also result in hepatitis because it can cause inflammation of the liver. Other viruses and bacteria that also can cause hepatitis include hepatitis D and E, chickenpox (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chicken_pox.html), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/cytomegalovirus.html).
Hepatitis A
In children, the most common form of hepatitis is hepatitis A (also called infectious hepatitis). This form is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which lives in the stools (feces or poop) of infected individuals. Infected stool can be present in small amounts in food and on objects (from doorknobs to diapers).
HAV is spread:


when someone ingests anything that's contaminated with HAV-infected stool (this makes it easy for the virus to spread in overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions)
in water, milk, and foods, especially in shellfish

Because hepatitis A can be a mild infection, particularly in children, it's possible for some people to be unaware that they have had the illness. In fact, although medical tests show that about 40% of urban Americans have had hepatitis A, only about 5% recall being sick. Although the hepatitis A virus can cause prolonged illness up to 6 months, it typically only causes short-lived illnesses and it does not cause chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B (also called serum hepatitis) is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from general malaise to chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cancer.
HBV spreads through:


infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine
a contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in the United States)
shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs (http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/talk_about_drugs.html)
sexual activity with an HBV-infected person
transmission from HBV-infected mothers to their newborn babies

Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by direct contact with an infected person's blood. The symptoms of the hepatitis C virus can be very similar to those of the hepatitis A and B viruses. However, infection with HCV can lead to chronic liver disease and is the leading reason for liver transplant in the United States.
The hepatitis C virus can be spread by:


sharing drug needles
getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized tools
blood transfusions (especially ones that occurred before 1992; since then the U.S. blood supply has been routinely screened for the disease)
transmission from mother to newborn
sexual contact (although this is less common)

Hepatitis C is also a common threat in kidney dialysis centers. Rarely, people living with an infected person can contract the disease by sharing items that might contain that person's blood, such as razors or toothbrushes.
Diagnosis

All of these viral hepatitis conditions can be diagnosed and followed through the use of readily available blood tests (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/medical/labtest3.html).


Signs and Symptoms

Hepatitis, in its early stages, may cause flu-like symptoms, including:


malaise (a general ill feeling)
fever (http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fever.html)
muscle aches
loss of appetite
nausea
vomiting (http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/vomit.html)
diarrhea
jaundice (http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_center/newborn_care/jaundice.html) (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

But some people with hepatitis may have no symptoms at all and may not even know they're infected. Children with hepatitis A, for example, usually have mild symptoms or have no symptoms.
If hepatitis progresses, its symptoms begin to point to the liver as the source of illness. Chemicals normally secreted by the liver begin to build up in the blood, which causes:


jaundice
foul breath
a bitter taste in the mouth
dark or "tea-colored" urine
white, light, or "clay-colored" stools

There can also be abdominal pain, which may be centered below the right ribs (over a tender, swollen liver) or below the left ribs (over a tender spleen).


Contagiousness

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are all contagious.
The hepatitis A virus can be spread in contaminated food or water, as well as in unsanitary conditions in child-care facilities or schools. Toilets and sinks used by an infected person should be cleaned with antiseptic cleansers. People who live with or care for someone with hepatitis should wash their hands after contact with the infected person. In addition, when traveling to countries where hepatitis A is prevalent, your child should be vaccinated with at least two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine.
The hepatitis B virus can be found in virtually all body fluids, though its main routes of infection are through sexual contact, contaminated blood transfusions, and shared needles for drug injections. Household contact with adults with hepatitis B can put people at risk for contracting hepatitis. But frequent hand washing and good hygiene practices can reduce this risk.
All kids in the United States are routinely vaccinated (http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/vaccine.html) against hepatitis B at birth and use of the hepatitis B vaccine can greatly decrease the incidence of this infection. Ask your doctor about this vaccine. Even adults can be vaccinated if they feel they're at risk.
The hepatitis C virus can be spread through shared drug needles, contaminated blood products, and, less commonly, through sexual contact. Although hepatitis C can be spread from a mother to her fetus during pregnancy, the risk of passing hepatitis C to the fetus isn't very high (about 5%). If you're pregnant, contact your doctor if you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C.

[MAGNES]

Tell me where you are going, send me a PM.

I got a tetanus shot, and Hep B half in 2005,
they made me sit outside of the office for 15
minutes and would not let me leave before that
time.

I was supposed to go back for Hep A but did not
because of research, what I should of done is get
the Hep A and not B back in 2005.

Where are you going, this is important, I have been to a few places,
my health is fine, but these diseases hide for years I have been told.

[ximmy]

only if your going to bathe in the Ganges

[MAGNES]

only if your going to bathe in the Ganges

Some of the craziest and sickest stuff I have seen online,
those Indians are totally immune it seems, there's a billion
plus of them.

[Cebu_4_2]

something abvojut bathing in sewer water, yoju bjuild immjunity

nice keyboard hjuh? ^

[freespirit]

i would get it if it were me...there is much at stake for you and your family if something goes wrong. not worth the risk, imo...

[LuckyStrike]

i would get it if it were me...there is much at stake for you and your family if something goes wrong. not worth the risk, imo...

I kinda see it different. On one hand there is a chance of getting something that would suck real bad and on the other getting something that you know is bad. Granted I don't think the side effects near or long term are as bad as getting hepatitis but it is still not a benefit. If you and your family are healthy I wouldn't worry about it, take some vitamin C make sure your immune system is in good shape before you leave etc.

To me it's kinda like some genie pops up and says, I have knowledge that you may be robbed tomorrow, if you give me $1000 now it may not happen, but if it does happen they will take $10,000. What would you do then?

[freespirit]

I kinda see it different. On one hand there is a chance of getting something that would suck real bad and on the other getting something that you know is bad. Granted I don't think the side effects near or long term are as bad as getting hepatitis but it is still not a benefit. If you and your family are healthy I wouldn't worry about it, take some vitamin C make sure your immune system is in good shape before you leave etc.

To me it's kinda like some genie pops up and says, I have knowledge that you may be robbed tomorrow, if you give me $1000 now it may not happen, but if it does happen they will take $10,000. What would you do then?

i can appreciate your viewpoint, LS...i kind of feel like that myself (to an extent)...but i'm not a parent or married, either...
i still think he should get it. or at least look into it further...

[Heimdhal]

There is less of a risk with standing vaccines (non seasonal ones like the flu) to adults than to children. I am far more anti vaccination for still developing children than I am for adults. I am anti rushed-to-market-hasnt-been-tested-seasonal-"vaccine". The swine flu vac was the shining example of that.

A 3 month old baby an d a 40 year old grown man are worlds apart on what their bodies can take.


As a developed adult, I'd be less worried, but I certainly wouldnt want multiple vacs back to back. Going to a place like india, I myself would considering getting the Hep vac.

Thats my .02

[k-os]

I have traveled to several third world countries, and never had vaccinations before I went. I even drank the water in Nicaragua out of the tap (filtered through a travel Berkey, of course) and survived.

I can't imagine having a family, much less having to worry about their health. It's a heavy question, and I don't envy you, Awoke.

I'd like to know where you are going, too. :) You can PM me, or not. It's just curiosity.

[zap]

I don't remember which vaccine I had A or B,it was required beccause I worked in the healthcare industry, whichever one it was didn't bother me at all, no problems and I am fine and dandy !

[Dogman]

I don't remember which vaccine I had A or B,it was required beccause I worked in the healthcare industry, whichever one it was didn't bother me at all, no problems and I am fine and sassy !


Fixed it for you! LOL

[mightymanx]

I have had all the hep A and B series due to previous jobs as a EMT and for some military stuff I did. I have been stuck by used needles had someone barf in my mouth and have waded through stuff that would make a maggot puke.

No hep for me did the vaccines help? Can't say for sure. Have not found a downside yet and it is real hard to live without a liver. Which is what Hep kills with a quickness.

I am not a vaccine fan at all for standard stuff but for non general issue specific targeted things I feel that they do work.

[LuckyStrike]

I don't remember which vaccine I had A or B,it was required beccause I worked in the healthcare industry, whichever one it was didn't bother me at all, no problems and I am fine and dandy !

I had vaccines as a child and sadly as a young teenager I got the chicken pox vaccine, suffice to say I feel fit as a fiddle, however I think the point is not "hey I got vaccinated and I didn't die" but rather the side effects which you may never attribute to the vaccine, or how you would feel today had you never got vaccinated, those things are impossible to quantify.

It's a tough decision if you are making it for others and not just yourself. I think vaccines (and any sort of safety measure) give people a sense of security a sense of "well I did what I could" but if you end up getting Hep FROM the vaccine, how would you feel then? Or if you have negative side effects? But control is an illusion, when you get the vaccination you think "well I took charge and now I am good to go" but in reality none of it is in your hands anyway.

[LastResort]

I dunno I'd do a bunch of research if I was you.

The twinrex commercials come off awfully gimmicky to me...

Glad I have no desire to leave Canada.

[Awoke]

I have no desire to leave either, but one of my best friends since childhood is getting married in Mexico. We'll be on a 5 star resort, all inclusive, so I'm not worried about too much.
We're not taking the kids either.

[MAGNES]

I have no desire to leave either, but one of my best friends since childhood is getting married in Mexico. We'll be on a 5 star resort, all inclusive, so I'm not worried about too much.
We're not taking the kids either.

You are going to a resort, especially if it regularly caters to Westerners,
you should be okay. I would not worry too much, if you are concerned
drink bottled water and stay away from washed lettuce, it is not a big
sacrifice even to avoid ice and drink beer, you may even get some pop
with real sugar in it, lol, that's a health food now. ;D I've been to resorts
in Cuba and done all that. The local pop was a treat too, since I stopped
drinking pop a long time ago. The local beer was good too. I have been
to Mexico too, but not to a resort, and some Caribbean countries.

The biggest thing for me.
Stay away from mayonaise/egg/milk type prepared products.
If you think about it, it is a breeding ground. These types of foods
make people sick in Western countries even,
including good restaurants, they spoil fast, mask the spoil. One bad
spoon in the new fresh product, it's gone, people have mild forms of
food poisoning from this all the time, sore stomach, etc,
I stick to solid food and pickled type salad products, no sacrifice.
Potato/macaroni salad and similar prepared products are the worst.
I always avoid them and attempt to educate people on this.

[lapis]

I have traveled to several third world countries, and never had vaccinations before I went. I even drank the water in Nicaragua out of the tap (filtered through a travel Berkey, of course) and survived.

I got one of the Sport Berkeys (http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/sport) recently; it's nice and portable, although it doesn't filter out fluoride unfortunately.



I have no desire to leave either, but one of my best friends since childhood is getting married in Mexico. We'll be on a 5 star resort, all inclusive, so I'm not worried about too much.

Sounds wonderful! Have fun. :)

[LastResort]

You are going to a resort, especially if it regularly caters to Westerners,
you should be okay. I would not worry too much, if you are concerned
drink bottled water and stay away from washed lettuce, it is not a big
sacrifice even to avoid ice and drink beer, you may even get some pop
with real sugar in it, lol, that's a health food now. ;D I've been to resorts
in Cuba and done all that. The local pop was a treat too, since I stopped
drinking pop a long time ago. The local beer was good too. I have been
to Mexico too, but not to a resort, and some Caribbean countries.

The biggest thing for me.
Stay away from mayonaise/egg/milk type prepared products.
If you think about it, it is a breeding ground. These types of foods
make people sick in Western countries even,
including good restaurants, they spoil fast, mask the spoil. One bad
spoon in the new fresh product, it's gone, people have mild forms of
food poisoning from this all the time, sore stomach, etc,
I stick to solid food and pickled type salad products, no sacrifice.
Potato/macaroni salad and similar prepared products are the worst.
I always avoid them and attempt to educate people on this.

Thats some solid advice there!

I might add when in doubt eat the salty foods. Salt work great at keeping the nasties at bay.


One question I have for you Awoke

Would you look into this type of vaccination if you hadn't seen the ads on TV?

[Awoke]

Thats some solid advice there!

I might add when in doubt eat the salty foods. Salt work great at keeping the nasties at bay.


One question I have for you Awoke

Would you look into this type of vaccination if you hadn't seen the ads on TV?

Thanks for the additional tip, and no, I would have never considered it if I didn't have friends tell me about it, who in turn saw it on TV. (I don't watch TV)

I do have a friend that actually did pick up Hep when he went down south, so that it why I am seriously considering this. I should give him a call.