Frequently Asked Questions I don’t know if my child was vaccinated for hepatitis B If your child was born in Australia after May 2000, chances are your child would have been vaccinated for hepatitis B unless you had specifically refused vaccination for your child. If your child was born in Australia before May 2000, chances are your child would have been vaccinated through the catch-up program or through the schools vaccination program for Years 7 and 8 students. This program ended in 2013. If your child was born overseas after May 2000 and has Medicare she is eligible for free vaccination even if she may have already received some childhood vaccines overseas. (See http://bit.ly/sahealth-childhoodimmunisation.) If you are unsure, speak to your GP.
I don’t know if I need hepatitis B vaccination Ask your GP for a blood test to determine if you have hepatitis B immunity. If your test results show that you are not immune, we strongly recommend that you get vaccinated against hepatitis B to protect yourself and your family.
I was vaccinated 10 years ago. Do I need a booster? In general, the hepatitis B vaccine, if administered correctly, provides life-long protection. However, if you are unsure, ask your GP for a blood test to ensure that the vaccination you received was effective.
I was vaccinated but still have no immunity About 5 to 15% of people who receive the standard doses of hepatitis B vaccine are non-responders. There are options available in such situations that depend on your specific circumstances. Talk to your GP to work out the best course of action for you.
Can we get free hepatitis B vaccinations? In South Australia, Hepatitis B vaccinations are free for: •
People who are not immune to hepatitis B who are: • Household contacts of acute and chronic hepatitis B carriers • Adults who have adopted overseas children who have hepatitis B • Sexual contacts of hepatitis B carriers • People with chronic liver disease • Children born overseas after May 2000 • New arrival refugees Tel: 8362 8443 – Tel Regional: 1300 437 222 – Fax: 8362 8559 Email: admin@hepatitissa.asn.au – PO Box 782, Kent Town SA 5071 – 3 Hackney Road, Hackney SA 5069 www.hepatitissa.asn.au – @hepcsa – @K3myliver
欣肝宝贝- HepatitisSA
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Individuals who have sustained a needle stick injury that is not subject to an Occupational Health Safety & Welfare (OHS&W) claim. Adults of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. Men who have sex with men Inmates of long-term prisons People who inject drugs
Where can we go for hepatitis B vaccination? 1. To get your vaccination, make an appointment with your GP. When making the appointment let the receptionist know that it is for hepatitis B vaccination. 2. Most GPs do not stock hepatitis B vaccine. You GP will write a prescription for you to purchase the vaccine from a pharmacy. 3. After you’ve bought the vaccine, take it back to your GP who will administer the injection. 4. Adults need three doses of the vaccine over a 6 month period to achieve full immunity. 5. COST 5.1 Check if you are eligible for free vaccination (See list above) 5.2 If you are not eligible for free hepatitis B vaccination and you have Medicare: - If you have private health insurance, the cost of the vaccine may be covered, and you only need to pay a gap. Conditions vary depending on your insurance. Contact your health insurer to find out if you’re covered. - If you do not have private health insurance, you must pay for the vaccine. 5.3 The costs of the second and third doses are not included in the price of the first dose. You will need to pay for them separately. 5.4 Remember, in each instance, you may have to pay a gap for your GP’s consultation fee if your GP does not bulk bill. 6. If you are not covered by Medicare and do not have private health insurance, the procedure for getting a hepatitis B vaccine is the same as that described above but you will have to pay the full doctor’s consultation fee and the full cost of the vaccine.
Where can I find GPs who speak Chinese? Please visit http://www.acma-sa.com/member.htm for a list of South Australian Chinese- speaking doctors and their contact details.
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