hepatitis B

[vvvodka]

i;m in a place where there is lots of hepatitis around, but as far as i know, i havent ever had the vaccination. unless it was given to me as a baby, and mom cant remember that long ago, but my parents were always very proactive about vaccines. i know i was given the small pox vaccine. i;m 37.
anyone have any ideas on how safe i am likely to be, around patients with hep c and possiblly b, assuming i stay far away from all body fluids? i dont even want to shake hands, but feel that to refuse would be rude.
in a quandry..... (i've read the wikipedia stuff, just need some mumsnet guidance

Do U ever give innoculations? If so I'd get the jab.
Refusing 2 shake hands would be silly, you have to exchange bodily fluids 2 catch it.

Very unlikely ot have been vaccinated routinely. Hep B and C are blood and sexually transmitted so risk of contraction very low unless in contact with body fluids. Hep B can last a while on surfaces containated with bodily fluids.
You can ask for blood tests to assess you degree of immunity whether through vaccination or previous exposure and then get vacianted if necessary. Even if previously vaccianted you may still need a booster.

There is no vaccination against hep C currently.

its not given routinely - if you are working around people with it your gp should be able to give it.

ive had it because im a special constable and i work in the nhs during the day. the police did mine, but i know you can get it via a gp.

find out about it - its not worth the risk of getting infected.

should say its a course of 3 injections, then a blood test to find out if your immune. then you need a booster every 5 years.

thank you all
the plan is to get the vaccinations started when i return to the uk after christmas. i am just having a bit of a panic attack ( ill with cold and cough and incredibly weak pelvic floor )
i dont do any sort of innoculations. just obserrve from afar. i shall stop panicking then i guess.