Hi again, our doctor advised us that in the face of PBC diagnosis it would be good to have Hepatitis B Vaccination.

[Betonarme]

Even it's a small chance to catch the HBV he says as an add-on to PBC things would be much worse.

Has anyone got also similiar advise from consultant? Is there any risk to have in a vaccination?

(they are dead viruses not)

We've just found out that my wife has antibody for Hepatitis A, so no need for vaccination.

Thanks

Betonarme

[Hidden]

Hello Betonarme.

There is a risk to any vaccination out there, it is personal choice whether to uptake and also everyone is different with their views.

Now about 4yrs prior to my itching I took on a job in a medical environment (was domestic work) and was offered the Hepatitis vaccinations due to the setting. I had never had any previous Hepatitis vaccinations.

I have always wondered if having these vaccinations triggered the PBC off. Something I shall never know but I know if I was offered a booster now for the ones I had (had 2 types of Hepatitis vaccinations, one was combined. I had a course of the jabs I have to add and then a blood check following), I'd not uptake.

Sorry to sound rather negative here with regards to the subject but I am of the thinking that sometimes you can be a winner if you do and a loser if you don't but also vice-versa.

I was offered the flu vaccinations annually the year following diagnosis (informed had PBC Dec 2010) and I've never taken up the offer for the reason I don't know if I'd open that can of worms or whether I would have side-effects knowing that I've never been a sufferer of colds (as yet).

It's got to be remembered too that guide lines go that doctors have to offer certain things that are said to be protective but it is the patient using the advise then that has to make the choice.

[2006]

When I was told I had PBC the doctor sent me for a series of shots for Hep. A and B.

He said it would protect me from getting anything else that would attack my Liver.

[Belliver]

Same as 2006-- my dr told me to get hep A & hep B vaccination after diagnosis. Also got pneumovax (to protect from some forms of pneumonia) & I get flu shot every year. No problems! Hope this helps

[Mickey1964]

I would not run out and get one if you are not a risk! Just know that this might sound drastic but getting Hep B could be very dreadful!

[Hidden]

I think it is personal choice with regards to uptaking Hepatitis vaccinations. Apparently there are no guidelines in the UK for a patient with a health condition to have the hepatitis vaccinations in this case, not like the 'flu and the pneumonia ones.

I've often wondered since I was offered with working in a medical environment at the time when I had a combined one of A & B. I did read that back in 1996 I think it was the French Government withdrew on these vaccines as it was thought they could contribute to auto-immune conditions but reading further I couldn't work out if it was before or after a generically produced hep vaccine.

I know I've never been advised to have the hepatitis vaccines but I know my GP did test me for forms of hepatitis back in my year of diagnosis and they all came back negative. From what I understand you can be protected by immunity to Hepatitis A for life after the vaccination but not so with the Hep B one.

The only vaccine that has been offered to me since diagnosis of PBC has been the flu jab annually and I have to say I've not taken the offer up. Sorry to say that I'm of the way of thinking if I've never really suffered from colds/flu then at the moment I do not even want to think I might be opening a can of worms if I did have the vaccination. I might decide to have one one day but at the moment I myself will be steering clear.