The New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in 2000-2003 to integrate viral hepatitis services into an
existing health care program. Viral hepatitis services were successfully
integrated into a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic beginning May 2000.
Since March 2003, hepatitis services were expanded to five additional STD
clinics, and there are plans to implement the hepatitis program to other NYC
DOHMH STD clinics. All services are free.
The program offers hepatitis A vaccine to STD
patients at high risk for infection and hepatitis B vaccine to all STD clients
who have not been vaccinated or previously exposed to hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis C counseling and testing is offered to those at high risk for
hepatitis C virus infection.
In 2007, the STD clinic administered 1,137 doses
of hepatitis A vaccine, 6,316 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, and identified 52
hepatitis C positive patients (52/789 =6.6%).
The New York City Department of Health & Mental
Hygiene is now offering information important for the health of all New Yorkers.
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