Feds Again Push Poison HBV Vaccine
Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project gains traction in California
More than 28,000 doses of hepatitis B vaccine were administered to high-risk adults as part of the Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project in California, according to study findings.
The project was initiated in response to the 2006 recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which stated that the vaccine should be offered to all adults as part of routine prevention practices in locations where the proportion of high-risk individuals is high.
From June 2007 to December 2008, the CDC initiative supported the administration of 275,445 doses of the hepatitis B vaccine nationwide. California administered 10.5% of the national doses available through the initiative, which made the state the second-largest administrator of the vaccine in STD clinics.
During the same period, there were 28,824 doses of the hepatitis B vaccine administered at 29 sites in California. Sites included STD clinics, correctional facilities, community health centers, substance abuse treatment programs, syringe exchange programs and HIV services centers. The vaccine was administered for the first time at 13 of the locations.
Also, 15,865 first doses were administered, 8,488 second doses and 4,165 third doses. The remainder were fourth doses or involved incomplete series data.
Among the 15,865 first doses, 72% were administered to men and 27% to women. Adults aged 19 to 44 years were administered 74% of first doses.
The vaccine was administered at no cost, according to the researchers.
They wrote that these results demonstrated the ability of sites to offer hepatitis B vaccine to adults on a large scale without additional federal resources for staff time. – by Rob Volansky
Nickell SP. MMWR. 2010;59:514-516.
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