Hepatitis B Information
The following information is of vital importance to you. Please read the information carefully. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor.
Health care workers who come in contact with blood and body fluids are at risk of acquiring Hepatitis B. This includes physicians, nurses, lab technicians, emergency medical technicians, and other (medical students) involved in health care occupations.
1. Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus. A case of Hepatitis B can be asymptomatic, similar to a mild case of the flu, or may be more severe, requiring extended bed rest or hospitalization. The long-term consequences can include chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
2. Health care workers are at 20 times greater risk of contracting the virus than the general public. Every year, in fact, approximately 18,000 health care professionals contract Hepatitis B. It is 100 times more contagious than AIDS.
3. Everyone who has contact with potentially-infected blood or body fluids is at rick; physicians, nurse, technicians – as well as maintenance personnel who handle needles and infectious waste. The Hepatitis B surface antigen is found in blood, saliva, urine, semen, vaginal secretions, and possibly other body fluids. Moreover, the virus can survive for days on environmental surfaces, and every contact with the virus can cause infection.
4. Short-term consequences of Hepatitis B include an average of seven weeks lost from work, and the risk of permanent liver damage. Long-term consequences include chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Every year approximately 5,000 Americans, including 300 health care workers, die of Hepatitis or its complications.
5. While this disease is harmful and can be deadly, it can also be prevented. For most individuals, the Hepatitis B vaccine has proven to be highly effective. However, there are some individuals who are hypersensitive to yeast or any other component of the vaccine. Nevertheless, if you cannot or do not wish to be vaccinated, you may sign a waiver to release Ogeechee Technical College from any liability arising from failure to receive the vaccine.
Hepatitis Vaccine Policy
All students enrolled in the Paramedicine Technology and EMS Professions program are strongly encouraged to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination. The vaccine will be at the student’s expense. Students who cannot or do not want to be vaccinated must sign a declination statement. This documentation will be kept in the student’s file.
The Hepatitis B vaccination consists of three (3) separate doses of the vaccine, given at time zero, one month and six months. Optimal protection is not conferred until after the third dose. This is not unfirmed until a Titer is drawn and recorded.
Some clinical and field settings require that student complete the Hepatitis B vaccination series. If students decline to complete this series some sites will deny the student access to their facility. Due to the limited number of clinical and field sites available, this could impact the student’s ability to complete the required clinical and field hours or procedures required for clinical courses.