A call to immunize the correctional population for hepatitis A and B

Abstract

An increasing number of the 12 million people who pass through jails and prisons in the United States each year are infected with hepatitis B or C. Many have routinely engaged in sexual and drug-use behaviors that put them and their contacts at risk for infection, and many are likely to return to these behaviors on their release, further spreading the infection. Thus, the prevalence of hepatitis infections among the incarcerated population is an enormous health problem not only for the correctional system but also for the community at large. There is no federal mandate for screening members of the incarcerated population who may be at risk or those who are already infected. Public health and correctional authorities must join forces to offer educational programs, prevention services, and intervention strategies to offenders, many of whom have their first contact with the healthcare system when they enter a correctional facility. Safe and effective vaccines for hepatitis A and B have been available for >11 years and, despite the challenges of conducting an immunization program for this population, the correctional environment provides a unique opportunity to reach these individuals and reduce the spread of viral hepatitis.