Vaccination Services

What is TWINRIX?

TWINRIX is a dual Hepatitis A and B vaccine which is a vaccine used in adults, adolescents and children to prevent diseases from Hepatitis A and B viruses by producing respective antibodies at the same time.

TWINRIX is administered as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional.

Who needs to have TWINRIX?

It is for those who need the protection from hepatitis A & hepatitis B at the same time.

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It can cause liver failure and death, although this is rare and occurs more commonly in elderly and persons with other liver diseases, such as hepatitis B or C. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is spread from person to person through contact with the feces (stool) of people who are infected, which can easily happen if someone does not wash his or her hands properly. You can also get hepatitis A from food, water, or objects contaminated with HAV.

You should get hepatitis A vaccine if you:

• are traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common,
• are a man who has sex with other men,
• use illegal drugs,
• have a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C,
• are being treated with clotting-factor concentrates,
• work with hepatitis A-infected animals or in a hepatitis A research laboratory

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. The hepatitis B virus is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

• All infants
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated
• People at risk for infection by sexual exposure
• People whose sex partners have hepatitis B
  •  Sexually active people who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship (for example, people with more than one sex partner during the previous 6 months)
  •  People seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted infection
  •  Men who have sex with men
• People at risk for infection by exposure to blood
• People who share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment
• People who live with a person who has hepatitis B
• Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled people
• Health care and public safety workers at risk for exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids on the job
• Hemodialysis patients and predialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients
• People with diabetes aged 19–59 years; People with diabetes aged 60 or older should ask their health care professional.
• International travelers to countries where hepatitis B is common
• People with hepatitis C virus infection and, or HIV infection.
• People with chronic liver disease
• All other people seeking protection from hepatitis B virus infection

How many TWINRIX doses will I need?

Standard TWINRIX dosing is 3 vaccine doses over a span of 6 months. You choose the date for the first dose. The second dose is 1 month after the first and the last dose is 6 months after the first.

What are possible side effects of TWINRIX?

The most common side effects include pain or discomfort, swelling or redness at the injection site, headache and tiredness, or possibly fever. Do not be alarmed by the possible side effects. It is likely that you will have no side effects from vaccination.

TWINRIX should not be used if you have:

Experienced any allergic reaction to TWINRIX or any ingredient contained in this vaccine.

A fever or anything more serious than a minor cold should postpone vaccination.