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April 10, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Health Official Wants all Food Handlers to Get Hepatitis-A Shot" Victoria Times Colonist (www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist)

(04/09/02) P. A5; Lazaruk, Susan

British Columbia health officials are strongly recommending that all area food handlers, including waiters and waitresses, be vaccinated against hepatitis A, following an outbreak in the disease at a Capers natural food store last month.  Two people contracted the disease after consuming foods prepared by an infected worker at Capers; however, Dr. Patricia Daly of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority said that as many as 10 people may have been infected.  According to Daly, the vaccine costs C$65 for the first shot and C$45 for a booster given one year later.  Daly noted that the total price could be reduced if the vaccine was purchased in bulk.  Noting that there are 50,000 food workers in the 4,500 restaurants in the Lower Mainland alone, Geoffrey Howes of the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said that "if (health authorities) could get a bulk rate, we'd certainly cooperate."  Approximately 6,000 Capers customers were given injections of immune serum globulin at a cost of C$2 each after the infection of the Capers worker was discovered.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.