The Virginia Adult Hepatitis B Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Virginia Department of Health’s Immunization Division, local health departments and community partners to identify adults at high risk for hepatitis B infection and to provide free hepatitis B vaccine to these individuals for the prevention of hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis B Facts:
-
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause a serious infection that affects the liver.
-
In 2009, about 38,000 people in the U.S became infected with hepatitis B.
- Each year, 2,000 to 4,000 persons in the U.S die from complications caused by hepatitis B.
- In recent years, adults in high risk groups have accounted for most new HBV infections.
- A safe, effective hepatitis B vaccine and a combination hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine are available.
- Greater than 90% of healthy adults develop a protective antibody response after 3 valid doses of vaccine.
Qualifying for the Vaccine:
- Through the Adult Hepatitis B Immunization Initiative, hepatitis B vaccine is available to those 19 years of age and older who are hepatitis B-susceptible and who meet one (or more) of the following conditions:
- Sexually active persons with multiple partners (more than one partner during the previous 6 months)
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- Current or recent injection-drug users (IDU)
- Household and sexual contact(s) of hepatitis B infected persons
- Persons with HIV infections
- Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for an STD
- Persons with diabetes mellitus
- If you are a patient interested in the program, contact your local health department for clinic dates and times.
- If you are a patient being seen at an opiate treatment center (OTC), you may qualify. Contact your OTC for information.
- Patients meeting criteria are offered the first dose of the three-dose series as they present. Subsequent doses are given according to the recommended schedule.
Forms for Participating Sites
Contact Information
- If you are a patient interested in the program, contact your local health department.
- For more information on site enrollment in the program, you can contact Donovan Robinson, Public Health Advisor, Division of Immunization, Virginia Department of Health at (804) 864-8055.
Patient Education Materials
Resources
Vaccine Order Form
