Hepatitis A and B Vaccine
TWINRIX, a vaccine recommended for patients age 18 and older that offers protection against Hepatitis A and B is available at all Planned Parenthood of Illinois health centers.
Hepatitis A and B are serious liver diseases that can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person or an infected needle with drug use, body piercings or tattoos. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through contaminated food or waste. Anyone who has had unprotected sex, multiple partners or a history of sexually transmitted infections is at risk of hepatitis and should receive the TWINRIX vaccine.
TWINRIX is an injection given in a series of 3 doses. The standard schedule is as follows, but can be flexible:
1st dose: day 0
2nd dose: month 1
3rd dose: month 6
Side effects include soreness and/or redness at the injection site, headache and fatigue. Patients who are hypersensitive to yeast and neomycin should not take TWINRIX.