CDC Recommends Hepatitis A Vaccine For Homeless

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new recommendations for the use of hepatitis A (Hep A) vaccine in individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

“This report provides recommendations for use of Hep A vaccine among persons experiencing homelessness and updates previous ACIP recommendations for Hep A vaccine that did not include homelessness as an indication for use of Hep A vaccine for preexposure protection against HAV infection,” the authors wrote.

The recommendations were based upon a review of relevant evidence supporting the inclusion of homelessness as an indication for Hep A vaccination.

The following recommendation was approved unanimously at the October 2018 meeting of the ACIP:

“All persons aged 1 year and older experiencing homelessness should be routinely immunized against hepatitis A. Routine vaccination consists of a 2-dose schedule or a 3-dose schedule when combined hepatitis A and B vaccine is administered,” the authors concluded.

The full recommendations are available in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Doshani M, Weng M, Moore KL, et al. Recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices for use of hepatitis A vaccine for persons experiencing homelessness. MMWR. 68(6);153-156.