SouthernUniversity’s Student Health Services and the Louisiana State University HealthSciences Center offered the first part of a three series vaccination Jan. 18-21 for the hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis Bcan be spread through blood and body fluids and can also be contracted throughsexual contact, use of shared needles during drug use, or from infected familymembers.
Hepatitis Bis 100 times more contagious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
This was thefirst time the university has offered these vaccinations.
It is aresult of a grant written by Wanda Warner, a nurse case manager for the SUStudent Health Center.
“We weretargeting the freshman population, because they probably haven’t had theshots,” said Vernita Hardy, the program’s coordinator. “However, any student isat risk.”
Additionalat-risk students include those who have body piercings, tattoos or have beenincarcerated.
T’ QuelaWofford, a junior majoring in nursing, participated in the vaccination. “Mymother and I read the pamphlets and I decided that it would be best for myhealth. The shots weren’t that bad — especially after four tattoos and a tonguepiercing.”
The shot isgiven in the nondominant arm, due to potential soreness.
Thevaccine’s protection is made to last for a lifetime, according to Hardy;however, a titer can be given by a doctor.
A titer is aprocess in which the blood stream is checked. A booster shot may also beadministered, as a back-up precaution.
Potentialconsequences include chronic infection, acute liver failure, liver cancer anddeath.
“In order tobe fully immunized, you must receive the shot three times. One dose won’t coverit. The vaccine is too potent to give at one time,” said Hardy.
The seconddose will be given Monday, Feb. 21 and Friday, Feb. 25.
The thirdand final dose will be administered Monday, Apr. 25 and Friday, April 29. Allhepatitis B immunizations will be administered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on thespecified dates in the SU Student Health Center.
Thevaccination is free to students and is available to faculty for $15.00.
