Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Watch Out for Hepatitis A
By Bae Ji-sook, Korea Times (April 5, 2009)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/04/147_42620.html

[Yesterday]

anybody who came here WITHOUT a Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccination is a fool....

The protection provided by the vaccine exceeds 95 per cent and it lasts for at least 10 years.

[harlowethrombey]

everyone knows foreigners are the ones spreading it, too. . .

[Big Pun Lives]

Hep A vaccine is a smart idea - I got mine before I came, takes about 6 months to administer though because you need two shots.

Hep B is contracted sexually, sharing needles and blood contact. So Hep B is not as important, unless you plan on hitting it raw sometimes.

- Big Pun -

[Robot_Teacher]

Hand washing and sanitary food service is very important. I understand as washing hands with soap is not very well practiced. Fried foods are most likely safe, but one gets tired of unhealthy fried food. While I cook most of my food, I do feel concern when I'm invited to restaurants.

[bish]

I am not sure if I have had the jab for hepatitis A although I think I have. Is it possible to be vaccinated in Seoul?

[bish]

I am not sure if I have had the jab for hepatitis A although I think I have. Is it possible to be vaccinated in Seoul?

[oldtactics]

bish, yes, any clinic or hospital can give you the shot (s)- try one of the international clinics if you're in Seoul.

[denistron]

How could I get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or other body fluid.
You could get hepatitis B by

-having sex with an infected person without using a condom
-sharing drug needles
-having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else
-getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (health care workers can get hepatitis B this way)
-living with someone who has hepatitis B
-sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
- traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common

Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through casual contact. For example, you cannot get hepatitis B by hugging or shaking hands with someone who is infected.

[denistron]

high risk areas:

Hep A
http://www.vivaxim.ca/Images/vivaxim_cons_risk_map_en.gif

Hep B
http://www.info.gov.hk/hepatitis/images/hep_b_eng_l.gif

Hep A shots are about W30,000 each time (you need to get it twice over 6 months) and you can get it at any children's hospital. They are usually given out to everyone here when they are kids. Hep B shots cost about the same but you have to get them 3 times over about 6 months. You can get those at any general doctor's office. If you have either Hep A or B your chances of contracting the other one is something like 80% higher. I recommend getting both. It is cheap and really worth it.

[Tjames426]

Sadly,

I very rarely see Korean food workers [grocery stores and bakeries] use gloves when handling food.

Every week at the Farmer's Market, I see the sellers grab whole deep fried chickens with their fingers the wrap them in newspaper

In fact, most take away foods, I macrowave over to purify the food for consumption. This is the only way I feel safe.

[laserprinter]