Per Shot or for the Regime?
Linda C said:
Do you know what they charge in the DR for these immunizations. In North Carolina they want $125 per shot for adult Hep A and $45 per shot for pediatric dose of Hep A. For Hep B it's $81 per shot for an adult. We will be living in Juan Dolio. Do we have to go to Santo Domingo to get these immunizations? Thanks!
Hep A is two shots, 6 months apart. The B vaccine requires one shot , followed by a 2nd 1 month later and the last 6 months after the first one. Usually people take the TwinRix vaccine (or any other combined A/B) so you are getting A and B each time (the A is a partial dosage) - but the total cost sounds quite high $125 for A plus 3 "B" shots at $81 each? In Canada where the cost is NOT covered it is $160 CDN for 3 prefilled syringes of TwinRix (so say, $100 US) dispensed at once - you keep in the fridge then take to the Doctor on the schedule above.
The B is very expensive as it is made from genetically manipulated yeast by Genentech, vs. made from infected horses etc.
At the very least use a combined vaccine and not 5 shots (2 A and 3 B) and you can:
Check with the local public health clinics ( like those in gay areas) where it is quite common to have HepA/B vaccines at little or no cost on a no-hassle basis. At least some of it can be done in advance. In Toronto for example it is free, no health card, no ID, snce the social benefit outweighs the cost issues, though using this logic it should be covered under our health plans but it isn't so one branch of government pays and the other doesn't.
As to Hep B if you are married and faithful it is not really mandatory vs. the A which is so easily transmitted through fecal contamination in food and water. You could save a few $ that way. Also don't forget polio and diptheria updates if you are older they may be less effective and at least they are free or close to it.