Vaccines When You Have Hepatitis C

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

Which vaccines do people with hepatitis C need? " пїЅ People with hepatitis C need some of the same vaccines that all people need, plus some extra ones, too. People with hepatitis C need vaccines against: пїЅ пїЅ

Hepatitis A " пїЅ People with hepatitis C should get 2 doses of this vaccine at some point during their adult life. But the vaccine is not needed if blood tests show that a person is already protected against hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B " пїЅ People with hepatitis C should get 3 doses of this vaccine at some point during their adult life. But the vaccine is not needed if blood tests show that a person is already protected against hepatitis B.
Pneumonia (this is called the pneumococcal vaccine) " пїЅ People with hepatitis C should get 1 to 2 doses of this vaccine between ages of 19 and 64. They should also get another dose after turning 65 if its been more than 5 years since their last dose.
The flu (this is called the influenza vaccine, or the "flu shot " пїЅ) " пїЅ People with hepatitis C should get 1 dose of this vaccine every year.
Diphtheria and tetanus " пїЅ Vaccines against these 2 diseases are usually together in 1 shot. People with hepatitis C should get 1 dose of these vaccines every 10 years.
Pertussis (also called "whooping cough " пїЅ) " пїЅ People with hepatitis C should get 1 dose of this vaccine at some point during their adult life. Sometimes the vaccine for pertussis comes in the same shot as the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

Why are vaccines so important when you have hepatitis C? " пїЅ Infections can be hard on anyone who already has another infection or is sick in other ways. People with hepatitis C have an infection caused by a virus. This is called "viral hepatitis. " пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ

When you have hepatitis C, getting infected with a second type of viral hepatitis can be very serious. That's because your liver is already not working as well as it should. Another viral hepatitis infection can shut down your liver completely. пїЅ пїЅ

Having a second infection, even if it's not another form of hepatitis, can also be serious when you have hepatitis C. That's because your body and your immune system (which fights infection) are weak. Plus, your liver might not be working right because of your hepatitis, so your body is already having a hard time staying healthy. пїЅ пїЅ

Vaccines can cause side effects, such as soreness where you get the shot. But the benefits of the vaccines are far greater than the downsides. пїЅ пїЅ

How do I find out if I have had all the vaccines I need? " пїЅ Ask your main doctor or nurse if you have been tested for viral hepatitis. People can have more than one form of viral hepatitis. Then ask if you have had all the vaccines you need. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 16407 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Vaccines When You Have Hepatitis C

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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