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January 27, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"CDC Urges Vaccination for Hepatitis in Prisons"

Salt Lake City Deseret News (www.desnews.com) (01/25/03) P. A9

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended on Friday that hepatitis vaccinations be given in prisons, noting that doing so could save lives.  "Medical prevention measures can be delivered effectively in prisons," explained the CDC's Dr. Cindy Weinbaum.  An estimated 1.4 millions have chronic hepatitis B infection, while as many as 200,000 are infected with hepatitis A each year.  The CDC also noted that over 4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C infections, and nearly 40 percent of those patients were in prison at one time.  [Although there is no licensed vaccine available for hepatitis C, it is important to protect patients with hepatitis C from further hepatic (liver) damage caused by hepatitis A or B.]

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