Houston Center for Infectious Diseases provides Twinrix to prevent the Hepatitis A and B:

• The Twinrix® vaccine works by helping your body produce its own protection (antibodies) against hepatitis A and B.

• Twinrix® may be used in adults, adolescents, and children at least 1 year of age.

• Twinrix® is administered as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional.

Twinrix® is the only dual hepatitis A and B vaccine.

People who have a fever or anything more serious than a minor cold should postpone vaccination. Pregnant women should also delay vaccination, unless immediate vaccination is recommended by a doctor.

For maximum protection you should have the 3 doses recommended by Twinrix®

Hepatitis A vaccine

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine. Vaccination is recommended for all children age 12 months and older, for travelers to certain countries, and for people at high risk for infection with the virus.

The hepatitis A vaccine is given as two shots, six months apart. The hepatitis A vaccine also comes in a combination form, containing both hepatitis A and B vaccine, that can be given to persons 18 years of age and older. This form is given as three shots, over a period of six months or as three shots over one month and a booster shot at 12 months.

RECOMBIVAX HB Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)

RECOMBIVAX HB Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant) is a sterile suspension of non-infectious subunit viral vaccine derived from HBsAg produced in yeast cells. A portion of the hepatitis B virus gene, coding for HBsAg, is cloned into yeast, and the vaccine for hepatitis B is produced from cultures of this recombinant yeast strain according to methods developed in the Merck Research Laboratories.

About Hepatitis B:

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

• All infants, starting with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated
• People whose sex partners have hepatitis B
• Sexually active persons who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship
• Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
• Men who have sexual contact with other men
• People who share needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
• People who have close household contact with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus
• Health care and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job
• People with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
• Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons
• Travelers to regions with moderate or high rates of hepatitis B
• People with chronic liver disease
• People with HIV infection
• People with diabetes 19 through 59 years of age, and considered for people with diabetes 60 years or older