Thread: Hep A - Havrix

I had my1st shot in the U.S. and my second here. I'm immune. It is strongly recommended to get a Hep-B vaccine shot also. My doctor here considers Hep-A minor stuff and laughed because I hadn't gotten a B. Immune to that now as well. There are 9 million Thais (60 million population [15%]) with Hep-B and there is no cure, so get a B for sure.

Oh, any hospital will have these vaccines.

Originally Posted by THX 1133

There are 9 million Thais (60 million population [15%]) with Hep-B and there is no cure, so get a B for sure.

Bro that seems very very high, being that I have never met a Thai with hep b.

Originally Posted by aging one

Bro that seems very very high, being that I have never met a Thai with hep b.

That's from the number 1 Thai doctor in Thailand for Hepatitis. I have spoken to him and this is what he told me. You've been here 18 years? You know many people with Hep B, but you don't know it. It's not exactly a "polite" topic of conversation. At the school I retired from, at least 2 teachers in my department had Hep. 1 had B and came in fully jaundiced. I was shocked; never saw anybody that yellow before. I asked her what the heck she was doing at work and her reply was, "I'm a teacher, I have many jobs to do." I told her she should be home in bed, resting. The other teacher has Hep C. She's lucky, there is a cure for that. Her treatment (interferon) costs 100,000 baht per week. That's one injection per week. Another doctor told me that hepatitis is so endemic here that they cannot send the patients home for bed rest; they must continue working. This would never be acceptable in the states as you know. I promise this is all true. One more aspect to living/working/loving and staying in Thailand.

Let me add this; people with Hep B/C aren't going to infect you with normal social contact. It takes a bodily fluid exchange/contact for it to be transmitted from one person to another. So, relax and enjoy, but remember; aids isn't the only worry with having sex (unprotected variety). Just don't be stupid.

Originally Posted by martyboy

Quote - Her treatment (interferon) costs 100,000 baht per week. That's one injection per week.

Surely that's not correct. Too many zeros!

Hmm, once again, this is what I was told in Thai, so not a mistranslation from English; Neung san baht. The number is correct but it might be every 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by oidar

Any hospital?

I was hoping to avoid some Indian/Chinese made vaccine?

My Hep B is complete, it can be done in 16 weeks. Hep A takes 6 months.

Well, you can go into BKK and go to Thonburi hospital. Very good private one and the doctors speak English as do most doctors here. The bottom line is it's not a problem, you choose.

Still its way to high bro. Could not be. You would have 2 kids in each class with hep. Nope.

Originally Posted by aging one

Still its way to high bro. Could not be. You would have 2 kids in each class with hep. Nope.

Interesting, my information comes from experts in the field on the front line of treatment. I guess you're entitled to your feeling regarding this.

Cheers bro, I have been googling it as well. Not a put down to you. My old head just cant get around the figures.

I found this, maybe this is why it seems low to me.


The good news is that only about 5% of adults who get acute hepatitis B will develop chronic or longterm infection. About half won't even know they ever got it.

Yeah, I can appreciate that. My first reaction was disbelief as well. But as my info increases I'm left with the startling reality. Statistically, what you say may be true; but the reality may not. I'm left with little choice but to believe what 2 leading experts have told me personally.

No offense taken; I wouldn't necessarily believe the info on the forum without doing my own checking.

WHO | Hepatitis B

Here, check this link. WHO says 2000 million people have been infected at some time and Thailand is in the top 3.