Due to a cluster of 26 hepatitis A cases among individuals who are homeless and/or drug users in Camden (9), Burlington (6) and Gloucester (11) counties, the New Jersey Department of Health is supplying hundreds of vaccines to these county health departments to immunize uninsured or underinsured individuals at risk of the liver disease.
Anyone can get hepatitis A, but recently, these southern counties have reported increased cases among those who have had close, personal contact with someone who has hepatitis A, men who have sex with men, drug users, and the homeless.
“Hepatitis A can be prevented with a vaccine,” Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said. “County and local health departments have been working with shelters, community health centers and homeless outreach services to vaccinate homeless individuals in several counties. I'm encouraged that our partnership with these organizations is getting an effective prevention measure to the most vulnerable people in the state.”
These counties have reached out to several inpatient and outpatient drug treatment centers, transitional housing and Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs), and have vaccinated and provided education to individuals seeking care at these facilities. Vaccinations being offered at the below locations are only for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Individuals with insurance should go to their primary care physician.
Camden County is offering free vaccination clinics for the uninsured or underinsured in Bellmawr and Camden City on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:
Bellmawr 35 East Browning Rd. (Bellmawr Library) Bellmawr, NJ 08031 856-931-2700
Fridays, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
Camden City 600 Market St. (Board of Social Services Building) Camden, NJ 856-756-2266
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
For more clinic information, visit http://www.camdencounty.com/service/health-human-services/regional-health-centers/. For information about Hepatitis A in Camden County, call 856-382-2695. You can also call the Camden City Health Clinic for vaccinations at 856-756-2266.
In Burlington, uninsured or underinsured individuals can call 609-265-5548 or 609-265-5533 to make an appointment to receive the vaccine.
In Gloucester, uninsured or underinsured individuals can call the Gloucester County Department of Health at 856-218– 4102 to schedule an appointment. Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, CAMCare, CompleteCare and Project HOPE are FQHCs serving Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties that provide the Hepatitis A vaccine.
The virus is typically transmitted from person-to-person when it is ingested from objects, food or drinks contaminated by stool from an infected person. This can happen when infected people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touch food or items that are shared with others. Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple state health departments are investigating hepatitis A outbreaks affecting these same high-risk populations.
For more information about hepatitis A, visit https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/hepatitisa.shtml or https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/index.htm.
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