http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/kitv/20010813/lo/883116_1.html
Monday August 13 10:56 PM EDT
Hawaii Begins To Immunize Teens For Hepatitis B
The Department of Health announced a plan
on Monday to immunize Hawaii's teenagers against hepatitis B.
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Teens will be given a series of vaccinations to protect them against the
disease.
The project also looks to immunize children from ages 6-18 of chickenpox,
measles, mumps and rubella. The plan is set to carry through 2002.
Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu attended the announcement.
Moritsugu is from Hawaii.
Moritsugu said that "Every year, up to 200,000 people in the United
States are infected, and there are approximately 5,000 hepatitis B related
deaths each year."
In Hawaii 110,000 children have been vaccinated since 1996, according to
health director Bruce Anderson.
The DOH has provided phone numbers for people to call for more information
about the TEEN VAX project: on Oahu 586-8332 and 1-800-933-4832 on the neighbor
islands.
Quick facts about hepatitis B:
· Hepatitis B is a serious disease, responsible
for an estimated 4000 to 5000 deaths each year in the United States due to
cirrhosis and liver cancer.
· Hepatitis B vaccine prevents hepatitis B
disease and its serious consequences.
· Therefore, this is the first anti-cancer
vaccine.
· Use of hepatitis B vaccine and other
vaccines is strongly endorsed by the medical, scientific and public health
communities as a safe and effective way to prevent disease and death.
· Hepatitis B vaccines have been shown to be
very safe when given to infants, children and adults.
· There is no confirmed evidence that
indicates that hepatitis B vaccine can cause chronic illnesses.
More details of hepatitis B.
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.