Two community hepatitis B outbreaks: an argument for vaccinating incarcerated persons

Vaccine. 2006 Feb 27;24(9):1354-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.09.023. Epub 2005 Sep 23.

Abstract

Current recommendations have not resulted in routine vaccination of correctional facility inmates for hepatitis B. We investigated two hepatitis B outbreaks. Outbreak 1 involved 4 cases epidemiologically linked to persons who had been in jail. Outbreak 2 involved 48 community cases; 69% had a history of incarceration. Two-thirds of the cases in these outbreaks might have been prevented by a program of routine vaccination of local jail inmates. Priority should be given to developing and supporting practical programs to vaccinate the high-risk populations in correctional facilities against hepatitis B.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Disease Outbreaks* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prisoners*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Vaccines