County Offering Hepatitis A Vaccine In Response To ‘Outbreak’
November 21, 2018 at 4:51 p.m.
County Offering Hepatitis A Vaccine In Response To ‘Outbreak’
By Mark [email protected]
Kosciusko County Health Department issued a news release Tuesday stating it has hepatitis A vaccine at its clinic, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw.
The release is in response to the outbreak of hepatitis A in several states, including Indiana. One person died over the summer from the disease. State health officials did not give any additional information regarding the casualty.
“Indiana and several other states have outbreaks of hepatitis A,” the release says. “Most of these outbreaks have occurred in high-risk populations: homelessness and illegal drug use being the most recent high-risk populations. But even if you are not in a high-risk category it does not mean you cannot get the disease.”
The release also said the disease is fairly rare in Kosciusko County, but citizens should still exercise caution.
“For the last decade, Kosciusko County has one case or less per year and all of those cases were tied to travel. To date in 2018, Kosciusko has had eight confirmed cases of hepatitis A and no cases with foreign travel. Almost half of the cases in Kosciusko County did not belong to a high-risk group.”
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. People who are becoming ill with hepatitis A can pass on the disease to others before they have any signs of illness. Symptoms begin 15 to 50 days after exposure, usually at about one month. Symptoms of hepatitis A include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, stomach pains, fever, dark urine, pale stools and jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Hepatitis A is an oral-fecal disease, so risk of the disease is higher in unsanitary conditions. Hepatitis A can become a public health emergency if an infected person is a food worker. This can require mass immunization of involved individuals.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease and the vaccine provides protection to most people even after only the first shot. The second shot is due six months later to complete the series.
For children 18 and younger, hepatitis A is a recent, phasing-in addition to Indiana schools vaccine requirements. For children, Kosciusko County Health Department has VFC, Vaccines for Children from Federal funding for children with Medicaid, no-insurance, and under-insurance, American Indian or Alaska Native. Vaxcare is available for children and accepts most local insurances.
For adults, Kosciusko County Health Department has Vaxcare, which can accept most insurances, and 317, an ISDH program for uninsured and underinsured adults. For adults using 317, there is an $8 administration fee for each shot, but if this is a hardship, the health department can waive the cost with a financial hardship form.
Adult Medicaid is not accepted through Vaxcare, and adults with Medicaid can seek vaccination through their physician or pharmacy.
Many pharmacies now carry vaccines and can be a convenient choice for insured adults. The pharmacy may have standing orders, and may be able to check insurance and give the vaccine to an adult requesting to receive the hepatitis A vaccine.
People who want to talk to someone about hepatitis A can call 574-267-7028. Immunizations are available on a walk-in basis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:15 to 4 p.m. On the first Monday of each month, the clinic is also open from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
The Indiana Department of Health has a web page with information about the Indiana hepatitis A outbreak at www.in.gov/isdh/27791.htm.
Kosciusko County Health Department issued a news release Tuesday stating it has hepatitis A vaccine at its clinic, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw.
The release is in response to the outbreak of hepatitis A in several states, including Indiana. One person died over the summer from the disease. State health officials did not give any additional information regarding the casualty.
“Indiana and several other states have outbreaks of hepatitis A,” the release says. “Most of these outbreaks have occurred in high-risk populations: homelessness and illegal drug use being the most recent high-risk populations. But even if you are not in a high-risk category it does not mean you cannot get the disease.”
The release also said the disease is fairly rare in Kosciusko County, but citizens should still exercise caution.
“For the last decade, Kosciusko County has one case or less per year and all of those cases were tied to travel. To date in 2018, Kosciusko has had eight confirmed cases of hepatitis A and no cases with foreign travel. Almost half of the cases in Kosciusko County did not belong to a high-risk group.”
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. People who are becoming ill with hepatitis A can pass on the disease to others before they have any signs of illness. Symptoms begin 15 to 50 days after exposure, usually at about one month. Symptoms of hepatitis A include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, stomach pains, fever, dark urine, pale stools and jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Hepatitis A is an oral-fecal disease, so risk of the disease is higher in unsanitary conditions. Hepatitis A can become a public health emergency if an infected person is a food worker. This can require mass immunization of involved individuals.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease and the vaccine provides protection to most people even after only the first shot. The second shot is due six months later to complete the series.
For children 18 and younger, hepatitis A is a recent, phasing-in addition to Indiana schools vaccine requirements. For children, Kosciusko County Health Department has VFC, Vaccines for Children from Federal funding for children with Medicaid, no-insurance, and under-insurance, American Indian or Alaska Native. Vaxcare is available for children and accepts most local insurances.
For adults, Kosciusko County Health Department has Vaxcare, which can accept most insurances, and 317, an ISDH program for uninsured and underinsured adults. For adults using 317, there is an $8 administration fee for each shot, but if this is a hardship, the health department can waive the cost with a financial hardship form.
Adult Medicaid is not accepted through Vaxcare, and adults with Medicaid can seek vaccination through their physician or pharmacy.
Many pharmacies now carry vaccines and can be a convenient choice for insured adults. The pharmacy may have standing orders, and may be able to check insurance and give the vaccine to an adult requesting to receive the hepatitis A vaccine.
People who want to talk to someone about hepatitis A can call 574-267-7028. Immunizations are available on a walk-in basis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:15 to 4 p.m. On the first Monday of each month, the clinic is also open from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
The Indiana Department of Health has a web page with information about the Indiana hepatitis A outbreak at www.in.gov/isdh/27791.htm.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092