<p>I sent S1 & S2 off to the doctor by themselves for their physicals. (ages 18 & 20) Like good little boys, they came back with their meningitis booster shots, but they were also given a Hep A shot (which will require a booster). Well this one is new to me and S1 said the doctor recommended it to anyone who frequently dines out - DORM food.</p>
<p>Anyone else get this vaccine for your kids?</p>
<p>i'm getting the hepatitis series shots</p>
<p>there are three of them in the series I think</p>
<p>My D had these shots when she was 8 yo, recommended by her pediatrician. I thought that these shots are required nowadays when you enter elementary schools? Hep A is a water and food born disease if memory serves me right. We adults also got the shots when we travelled to Asia and other parts of the world with less than optimal sanitary conditions.</p>
<p>Your sons will also need booster shots within 6 to 12 months.</p>
<p>Kajon, I just discussed the hep A shot with my son's doctor yesterday. He told me it is not routinely given (unlike the hep B shots which most if not all kids receive), it is expensive and most insurance companies don't cover it.</p>
<p>My son does have some medical issues so I will be asking the specialist he sees for his opinion but the pediatrician did not think it was necessary for most people.</p>
<p>^^^^^ I can guarantee my kids did not think about asking the price :p</p>
<p>My daughter got it before she went to Honduras this summer- I think that they give them to college kids b/c alot of them travel abroad- she will need booster in December</p>
<p>It probably is advised for travel abroad. </p>
<p>I guess some western states and certain communities/populations in the US had/have more problems with Hep A outbreaks so kids are vaccinated in those areas when they are young.</p>
<p>Hep A vaccine is advised when traveling abroad, mostly to third world countries. However in the US there have been small outbreaks in certain areas. This vaccine is not required and is not routinely given, unless traveling abroad. The booster is given aprox six months later and it provides immunity for life.</p>
<p>I checked my kid's shot record and our doctor has given him the shots for Hep B and Hep A. He got two shots for Hep A. Our doctor is very good and keeps up with all the info. FWIW.</p>
<p>As an addendum, I will add that my son has been out of the country several times. I don't know if that is why our doctor decided to give the Hep A.</p>
<p>"^^^^^ I can guarantee my kids did not think about asking the price "</p>
<p>I paid $60 per shot (of 2) several years ago in Ca. I forced my child to ask for the shot when he traveled to a third world country. It wasn't recommended. My husband contracted Hep A in North Carolina.</p>
<p>We all got Hep A shots before heading overseas to a relatively poor country. They were never even suggested otherwise. Don't think they'll hurt anything, but I kind of doubt they're necessary for dorm food.</p>
<p>Every wonder how we all survived?</p>
<p>Hep a is suggested for travel out of country, which my girls did for mission trip...I think for food and water issues. You can just get shot if traveling but getting second booster gives lifetime protection which is worth it since most college kids will either study abroad or do some kind of service trip. IMHO, worth if even if you have to pay.</p>
<p>I and H got the twinrix which is a 3 shot A and B combo. D's got the B as a kid then both got the A (2 shot) before college. why? well once they are out of the house getting them to do vaccinations is hard to organize and i was worried that semesters abroad and winter breaks are an unknown. and we travel alot abroad and did not want to worry about this. on a side note we lagged on the hpv guardasil- took a year and half to complete with every visit home. we definitely got the meningitis shots even if they are not required for the college!</p>
<p>We all got Hep A and B years ago when we were leaving the country.</p>
<p>In the late 90's there was a big scandal when school kids contracted HepA from frozen strawberries served at lunch. The strawberries were supposed to be of USA origin, but someone substituted Mexican grown berries. Some kids became quite ill, but I believe they all recovered. I'll bet your doctor remembers the lesson from this: Beware institutional foods, especially in an era of cost-cutting.</p>
<p>I got Hep A (not the shot). Don't mess with it (the disease, I mean.)</p>
<p>My kids received both Hep A and Hep B vaccines. Hep B was a series of three shots during their first year of life. The Hep A was series of two shots a year apart which were given in 2007 and 2008. Thus it seems Hep A shots have been recommended for at least the past 4 years.</p>
<p>The meningitis booster recommendation came out in the fall of 2010. Both my teens received the second booster at their checkups this year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
since most college kids will either study abroad or do some kind of service trip
[/quote]
Dude, we must move in totally different circles.</p>
<p>My son had the Hep A vaccine at my suggestion as he eats sushi regularly. Other son did not get it.</p>