A member asked:

I had the hep b vaccine years apart from each other, my clinic, or doctors have never informed me of this, can i still be protected from hep b?

8 doctors weighed in across 5 answers
Dr. Gregory Hines answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Be tested: This can be tested easily at any lab. Draw a titer.

Answered 11/8/2012

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Yes-complete series: Hepatitis b vaccine could reduce the risk of disease by ~95% after completion of 3 doses given(intramuscular injections) at appropriate intervals, for all individuals except patients on dialysis booster doses are not required for protection even if anti-hbsag antibodies are reduced/undetected. If you had only 2 doses, take a 3rd dose now. If you completed the series then immunity is established.

Answered 6/25/2014

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Perhaps: Your vaccine sequence (years apart) is one that could or could not produce immunity. You should get an anti-hbs test. If it is not positive, you should get a standard sequence at 0, 1 and 6 month doses.

Answered 11/8/2012

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Yes: Usually if you received the first 2 shots., you have about a 50 percent chance of immmunity you need your physician to check your blood to see if you developed the protective antibodies from the vaccine. If you did not develop the antibodies, you are not protected from hepatitis b and should redo the 3 shot regimen.

Answered 11/8/2012

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Dr. Scott Hamstra answered

Specializes in Pediatrics

Yes - probably: If you got all 3 doses -- even if doses are further apart than the recommended schedule - your immune system likely responded and you have protection. Getting tested might not prove immunity. Could test and if negative, get a single dose - and retest. Or do 3 dose series agin. If only got 2 doses, need a 3rd dose. If you want assurance - test for antibody after this dose.

Answered 6/11/2015

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