Southern 7 Addressing Hepatitis B through Prevention & Elimination Efforts
An estimated 1.4 million Americans are affected by Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) can cause serious liver disease that can eventually lead to liver cancer without proper treatment. Southern 7 Health Department (S7HD) together with other Illinois healthcare providers aims to raise awareness about HBV and encourage the public to get screened and vaccinated.
In September 2022, Southern 7 renewed funding from the Center for Asian Health Equity (CAHE) at the University of Chicago Medicine and the Hope Light Foundation (HLF) to reach and engage community members and residents around HBV prevention. This is the third year the Health Department has received this funding, which will be utilized to disseminate HBV prevention information for the public and high-risk populations through area agencies, healthcare facilities, schools, and other community partners.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, screening and routine vaccination rates have significantly declined statewide, including vaccination for HBV. Increasing HBV knowledge and ensuring timely vaccination can reduce prevalence of hepatitis B and lead to elimination of the disease.
The most common way HBV is spread is from mother to baby during birth. All pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B. Other high-risk populations include individuals who use or formerly used injection drugs, those born or whose parents were born in high endemic countries, such as most Asian and African countries, and men who have sex with men. Screening is done through a simple blood test.
Most people with HBV do not feel sick and may not present with any symptoms until severe liver damage leads to liver cancer. Approximately 1 in 4 individuals with untreated HBV will eventually die from HBV-related health conditions. Although there is no cure for HBV, individuals with HBV can live a full and normal life with a treatment plan and routine care.
The HBV vaccine is highly effective in preventing HBV and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends vaccination for everyone under the age of 60. The HBV vaccine requires multiple doses for full protection. For example, the 3-dose HBV vaccine requires doses at 0, 1, and 6 months. Southern 7 Health Department provides the HBV vaccine to children and adults.
For more information on preventing Hepatitis B, or to schedule an HBV screening or vaccine appointment, contact Southern 7 Health Department at 618-634-2297, download the Southern 7 App, or visit www.southern7.org.
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