HIV/STD Certs and Hepatitis

[Russ]

Hi all!

Thought I?d offer a wee suggestion with regard to Hepatitis and adult worker certification.

I think it?s absolutely essential to include being Hepatitis-free in all HIV/STD Certification. Epidemiological studies are showing that levels of Hepatitis in the population are increasing.

Hepatitis A is transmitted via Faeces, so activities like ATM and rimming are easy ways to catch the illness from an infected person. Infection can result in severe liver inflammation.

Hepatitis B is transmitted by all forms of sexual activity. Penetration is not necessary, as saliva exchange, licking pussy (yum, yum!) or semen (we all love a girl who swallows, but it might increase her risk of catching Hep B) can all allow infection. Infection can be life-threatening, and all NHS health workers in the UK (like me) are expected to be Hep B immunised.

Hepatitis C is less likely to be passed on via sex, but the risk (although low) exists. Being infected by Hep C can have life-threatening end results, too.

Because of this, I would make the following two recommendations to all in the Adult Industry:

1. All workers should get Hepatitis B immunistaion from their doctors. Immunity last approx 5 years, and the vaccination involves three little pricks (oo-er missus), the first two a month apart, with the last six months after the first. A blood test would confirm immunity.

2. All HIV/STD certification MUST include Hepatitis-free status.

I want to continue to enjoy you guys and gals now and in the future, so please, please, think about what I?ve written, and maybe adopt my recommendations?

Take care, everybody.

[Ms Flame]

ive been immunised against hep a but not the others as im waiting to hear back if im already immune to them.

i read on an old post that there are some side effects to the jab. can anyone tell me what these are?

[Loz]

i had the hep b immunisation and there were no side effects at all.

[Russ]

Yep, I?ve had the Hepatitis B vaccination a number of times, and never (ever) experienced any side-effects, whatsoever, at all. I?ve never known any of my friends/colleagues to have ever experienced side-effects either, so I think the vaccine is pretty safe.

The Hep A jab gives a years protection, but if you receive a second booster shot 6-12 months after the first shot, you can get protection for up to 10 years! (wow!) Rim and ATM to your heart's content...

The Hep B jab as I mentioned, involves three wee injections over a period of 6 months, with resultant protective cover for 5 years after which re-immunisation is usually necessary.

I think it?s essential that everyone working in the Adult Industry should routinely receive the Hepatitis A and B vaccination. Unfortunately, there ain?t no Hep C vaccine (yet), so that?s why Hepatitis-status should be an essential part of the HIV/STD Certification. That way, if you?re gonna play, at least you know when and with who you should insist on protection.

So, Guys and Gals, give your GP a call in the morning!

[harmonyhex]

after my hep b jab i got the flu / sore throat / all the usual groggy symptoms

in the industry, it seems that you normally get given the hep b jabs with shorter intervals. i had my jabs through charing cross clinic and i had my 3 jabs within a month

[Russ]

Hi Harmony (love your work!),

Glad to hear that you?ve had the jab! I?m not sure about getting all three jabs in a month, though. Doesn?t sound correct to me.

I was under the impression that it was essential to follow the 1st jab-one month-2nd jab-five months-3rd jab pattern to achieve successful immunisation.

Just as Amoxycillin antibiotic capsules need to be taken 3xdaily for a week, if instead all the Amoxycillin capsules are taken within a couple of days, it?s gonna make you fell pretty ill, and the effect of the drug would be unpredictable, maybe ineffective. It?s worth checking if the clinic you?re using is following recommended procedures and protocols.

I also think it would be worth checking whether successful immunisation can be achieved when the jabs are given in a different pattern to that accepted as the norm in the Health Service. We (clinical staff) have to wait until successful seroconversion has been achieved before working in situations of risk. Being given all three shots within a month makes me feel uncomfortable (no wonder you felt ill, flippin? heck!), and I?d get advice.

I think it?s essential to get a blood test at the end of a vaccination course, as this tells you if you?ve been successful, or whether a further shot is necessary. To be sure if the 3 jab/1 month course is OK, I?d advise getting a wee bit of advice from a the local NHS Sexual Health Clinic (look in the phonebook under Genito-urinary Medicine or GUM clinic, they would advise you properly).

Please check to make sure you?ve received correct advice and care, maybe check with the ol? GP (if you can get past the ?Here?re two paracetamol, come back in a couple of weeks!? rubbish).

Take Care.

[paul jones]

When I had it, my first gave my an afternoon of flu. No effect from later ones.

Charing Cross gave (gives?) the jabs on an "accelerated" basis - I think they did mine over 3 months instead of something like 6.

And yes, they do check that it's working.

[Russ]

Hi Paul, glad to hear you?ve had the jab, and that you?re covered. How did they confirm effective seroconversion, via a blood test about a couple of months after the last jab? Did they also confirm that cover would be for 5 years or so?

Harmony says that her course was completed (all 3 jabs) within a month, whilst yours was done in 3 months. I?ve never heard of an ?accelerated? course of Hep B immunistaion, and so I?d recommend confirming things with a GUM-clinic specialist (GPs, bless ?em, are sweet but a bit gormless, and I?m not sure their advice would be any use).

The internationally accepted recommendations for Hep B vaccination insists on 3 jabs, at 0, 1 and 6 months, with a follow-up blood test at 8 months for confirmation of cover. I?m not sure of the efficacy of any other frequency of course, and that?s why I?d advise confirmation of protection from an independent specialist.

As I said, as an example, a course of Amoxycillin antibiotic capsules are supposed to be taken 3 times daily for 7 days (i.e. a course of 21 capsules). If, however, you swallow the lot within 2 days, you?re definitely gonna feel ill, and the effects (whether positive or negative) are unpredictable. That?s why all medicines have proscribed guidelines on administration.

I don?t understand why you?re ?accelerated? dose was given over just 3 months, while Harmony?s was completed within a month!!! Why the difference? Different terms of dose administration seems to me, as an NHS health professional, a little strange, and I?m not surprised you both were ill. There are reasons for guidelines and I just want to ensure that those you guys and gals trust to keep you safe follow them.

As I?ve said before, I?m no specialist in these things, and I?d advise that you get the necessary info from a sexual health specialist, and post it here for everybody?s awareness.

Sorry about this torrent of babbling. Take care out there.

[paul jones]

All good questions I'm sure - you sound like a professional so maybe you should talk to the West London Centre for Sexual Health which is where I and most industry people go.

http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/hiv ... center.htm

[Russ]

Hi Paul,

I tried phoning the Charing Cross clinic just now, but they aren?t picking up the phone (or they?ve all gone home!). I see that the clinic is part of a NHS Foundation Trust, so that?s good news, but, to be honest, I?m still not convinced about the length of time they?re using for administration. I work with blood and saliva everyday, and so I?m super-careful to ensure that I?m protected. You guys are exposed to a bit more than me, and so I just want to be sure that you?re properly informed, and God willing, safe.

I had a look at the NHS Direct info pages, and they state that 3 jabs given over 4-6 months impart full protection for 5 years. I guess that anyone going to have their jabs should ensure that things are being done according to recommended patterns (check with the person jabbing you!), and they should ensure that follow-up checks/blood tests to confirm protection are carried out.

If you aren?t sure about anything, talk to a specialist (in working hours, you should be able to get hold of them then!).

I still recommend the following for all in the Industry: -

1.Get effective Hep A and B cover (use precautions until you?re sure you?re covered),
2.Include Hepatitis status in certification, so at least you know when it?s necessary to use protection (e.g. if your play partner has Hep C, use a condom).

Getting infected doesn?t mean the end of the world, and total recovery from illness happens a lot of the time, but for a few, infection can lead to more serious consequences.

If there?s any specialists out there, please give us your views/comments/advice?