Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

Of course,
chances are your body will reject the disease and you will be permanently immunized against it, but shots are recommended.
As for mothers passing it on to her kids, if the woman is aware she has it, the doctor can treat the baby at birth which virtually garantees the disease will be purged from the babies system.
This is what our family doctors (here and in Canada) told my wife when we asked about what would happen if she had Hep B.

[On the other hand]

[Keepongoing]

does anyone have any experience with the International Clinic in Itaewan? I was considering this place to get the hep shots.

[komtengi]

I contracted acute hep b when I first came to Korea in 98/99, while I was studying at university here. It was so bad I couldn't keep any food done and had bad jaundice... the yellow eyes and skin. My urine was also dark like black tea. I was admitted to the university hopsital where I had 15 (I think, cant and dont really want to remember) pints of plasma transfusions. Over 80% of my liver had been destroyed by the virus, and the dr demanded that I get in contact with my parents. Thankfully my mate in the dorm got in contact with the embassy and at 3am in the morning one of the aussies from the embassy came down with his assistant. Within 3 days my mum, best mate, a doctor and nurse had flown from aust, and taken me back for another 3 week stint in hospital. Thank god I had travel insurance. It would have cost well over $30,000 for the whole situation. When I arrived back in australia there was talk about a liver transplant, but being young and healthy helped me recover. 18 months of recovery and my liver regenrated back to 100%.

Yeah I was young, and dumb not to get my shots. Retrospect is great, but its an experience I wouldn't want anyone else or their family to go through. Definately get hep a & b shots... I'd also recommend Japanese Encephalytis(?) shots

[peppergirl]

[IconsFanatic]

Oh dirty, dirty Greenland!

[IconsFanatic]

Nobody gets Hep A from Korean tap water.

Was surprised to see South Korea had a "medium" level for Hep A... surely it was higher before, no?

I got my first Hep A shot a few months before coming, but didn't bother to get my booster in December 2003. Leaving in 9 days, so I don't think I'll bother.

My future's in Canada and the UK, so I doubt I'll bother with it. Although the vaccine supposedly lasts more than 20 years, which is fairly long...

[cacheSurfer]

Which vaccine requires 3 seperate shots? Is it Hep A or B?

Can I get the booster(number 3) over here? Will they know what I'm talking about?

[shawner88]

I've gotten the first shot in the series 3 times now but always forget to go back for the follow ups. The last shot I got was 6 months ago. Am I safe?

[IconsFanatic]

[hjkorea]

whoever said that you can get hep b through sharing food and other casual contact is wrong. it is not spread through casual contact. modes of transmission are much like hiv. it is spread mostly through contact with blood, such as mother-child transmission, drug use or sex. the level of actual virus is much more concentrated than hiv and is most present in blood. therefore you are much more likely to contract hepatitis if you come into contact with it. the good news is something like 90% of normal healthy adults will get rid of it naturally. the other 10% pass the acute stage and go into a chronic stage of the virus.

i could've sworn i was vaccinated against it in the states but i couldn't remember if i had finished my shots. i went to samsung hospital and got a few tests. first test checked for antibodies for hep b, second test checked for the antigens (presence of hep b virus). turns out that both tests were negative, meaning that i didn't have the virus, nor did i have the antibodies. doctor suggested i start my round of three shots and do it over a period of 6 months. if memory serves me right, it was about 25,000 won for two of them. 3 shots is sufficent for most people to have proper levels of antibodies. if you want to be really sure, you can get what's called a "tighter level" test after you finish your last shot. this test measures the amount of antibodies in your system.

[Pericles]

Hep B is not transmissable through casual contact, it is an std. It is only transmissable through sexual contact and exchange of blood. However, Korea is a "red zone country" for Hep B, meaning it is amongst the highest rate of infection in the world. Hep B vaccinations require numerous injections over a 4 month period.

Hep A is transferred through Oral-Fecal contact. If you put something in your mouth that has come into contact with sewage you are at risk. However, South Korea is not a red zone country for Hep A, only North Korea. The risk of Hep A is low-intermediate in South Korea. However, Hep A vaccinations are advisable since there is a possibility of water contamination and eating tainted food.

Both vaccines are available at Korean Hospitals although, in most cases they are a separate vaccine, not the Twinrex form usually used in Canada and the US.

For more information visit the Center for Disease Control Website.

[Keepongoing]

Ok I went to a clinic near my school today and asked for a series of TWINRIX injections. The doctor told me that Korea does not offer this vacccine. I was told that I would need a series of Hep A and B injections seperately.

Euvax for Hep B given 3 times, 1, 2 and 7 months. 23,000 per inj

Hanvrix For Hep A given twice 1, and 6 months. 70,000 per inj

I was told that the insurance did not cover any of the costs.

I took one injection of each shoulder.

Does that sound right to you??????

[peppergirl]

[royjones]

had the twinrix (HepA and B) vaccination here in Canada (last year), it cost about 170 canadian. was 3 needs.. day 1, 30 days later and than 5 months later (after second needle).
so why in seperate arms? that is my question. I think the same arm would be better. no need of having 2 sore arms. as well, the dominant arm is the best. as you use that arm more, and thus the injection is worked through the muscle faster, thus the pain doesnt last as long. well thats my 2cents worth