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October 23, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Hepatitis Shots a Must for Teens"

Bergen Record (www.bergen.com) (10/22/02) P. A4

New Jersey has passed a law requiring that high school students obtain hepatitis B immunizations before enrolling in school. Under the measure, students enrolling in grades nine through 12 must be vaccinated against hepatitis B before the start of the 2003-2004 school year, or else they will not be admitted to classes.  College students attending school in New Jersey are also subject to the law, although the starting date for mandatory vaccinations for them will not begin until fall 2008.  The law comes as new statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans are infected with hepatitis B every year, with 40 percent of new cases occurring in people under the age of 19.

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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.