I was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 2020. Because of my medication (Tenofovirdisoproxil), the virus is no longer detectable in my blood. Even though I live alone most of the time, I visit my parents a couple of times a year and usually stay a couple of weeks each time in their house. They know that I have this virus but they are not vaccinated against it. I have told my mother a couple of times that she and my father should at least consider getting the vaccine but they don’t seem to want to. What is the community’s thoughts on this? I remember reading someplace that the household members of hep b-positive people should get the vaccine, but if my viral load is so low that it’s undetectable and if I ensure that no one in the house uses my toothbrush or razor then surely the risk of inection is low?
I would not worry about this. The chance of you spreading the virus to your parents when sharing a bathroom would be low under any circumstance, but given that your viral load is undetectable, the chance is essentially zero.
Thanks for the response. Yes, this is what I think too. Nevertheless, the official guidelines (as far as I know) state that household members of hepatitis B-positive people should get vaccinated. But in any case, my parents don’t seem interested in getting the jab so what can I do. I think I’ll just leave it.
Sorry this is such a tense situation, but I guess you have done your due diligence and it’s up to others to take responsibility for their own health now. I hope you find peace in your decision and can go about your life without worrying too much.
HI @Barry you did your due diligence by informing them, there’s only so much you can do now. However, I totally get wanting to protect your loved ones. For what it’s worth, from my understanding, it cannot be passed through casual contact such sharing a restroom, sharing food, etc. I would just be cautious if you start bleeding to not get any on them, don’t share nail clippers, razors, etc (and all of that is basic hygiene anyways!) So honestly, the risk of them contracting it is quite low.
Hopefully they’ll come to and vaccinate regardless though - as while I don’t think you really pose a risk, the bigger risk (in my opinion) comes from the outside word (for example, if a dentist isn’t properly sterilizing equipment, if a barber or hospital isn’t either either, etc. I say this because I have a very strong suspicion that I contracted my Hep B either from a surgery I got as a teen bc I tested positive shortly after, or, my second guess is the barber).
Regardless, hopefully they will decide to vaccinate. My wife ended up vaccinating shortly before we got married. She was born in the US after the vaccine became commonplace and got it as an infant, so she should have been immune but when she tested, it turned she no longer had immunity and she told me even if we had not met and gotten married, she definitely would have gotten vaccinated regardless.
Anon2023: My parents will not be getting vaccinated as they have no awareness about hepatitis B (living as they do in a country where the virus is very rare). I’ve done my part and can’t force them. They’re also 81 years old so maybe at that age the benefits of getting vaccinated are not very big, I’m not sure.
It’s disturning that your wife had no immunity against hepatitis B despite being vaccinated. I’ve read about cases like this before on this forum and it makes me wonder how effective this vaccine is at all.