Hepatitis A Vaccines Offered Free To First Responders in WV

A new initiative in West Virginia offers free hepatitis A vaccinations for uninsured and underinsured first responders in the state, reports JoAnn Snoderly with West Virginia News.

This new 2-part vaccination program is not mandatory for first responders.

Since March 2018, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health has reported an increase in the number of confirmed cases of acute hepatitis A virus.

As of July 22, 2018, 626 hepatitis A cases linked to the epidemic had been reported during 2018 in West Virginia (WV).

This WV report said there have been 397 hospitalizations (63.4%) and 2 deaths.

Nearly 55 percent of these cases were reported in Kanawha County, WV.

According to Kavin Richardson RN, of the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department, “First responders often come into contact with individuals who are at a higher risk for contracting the disease, including drug users and individuals experiencing homelessness.”

“You start building antibodies after the first shot, but they do recommend the 2nd shot in 6 months to get maximum antibodies from the series,” she told WVNews.

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And, in some cases, food service staff can spread hepatitis A.

The incubation period for hepatitis A is 2 to 6 weeks, and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, fever, yellowing of skin and eyes, changes in urine and feces, joint pain and fatigue, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, commissioner and state health officer for the Bureau for Public Health.

West Virginia is one of several states affected in an outbreak of hepatitis A that started in Michigan in 2016. 

Currently, the states of Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia are reporting widespread hepatitis A outbreaks.

Kentucky has been hit hard in the epidemic.

Since August 1, 2017, the Kentucky Department for Public Health has identified 1,170 cases of acute hepatitis A, with 659 Hospitalizations and 8 deaths.

Those who would like the immunization in WV can see their primary care provider or contact their local health department. Health departments can bill insurance or Medicaid for the immunizations, she said.

Also, pharmacies may offer the vaccine. To request a vaccination appointment at a pharmacy, please visit this page. 

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides current HAV vaccine contract prices and general information, and vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.

For more information on the hepatitis A vaccine, contact a primary care provider or local health department at 304-623-9308 (Harrison County), 304-269-8218 (Lewis County), 304-472-2810 (Upshur County), 304-873-1531 (Doddridge County), 304-265-1288 (Taylor County), 304-366-3360 (Marion County), 304-636-0396 (Randolph County) or 304-457-1670 (Barbour County).

For the latest information on the hepatitis A outbreak in West Virginia, visit hepawarewv.org.

Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JoAnnNCWV.