KEYWORDS:
hepatitis, adult, immunization, integration

BACKGROUND:
The Florida Hepatitis and Liver Failure Prevention and Control Program was established in 1999, with initiatives including: raising awareness of hepatitis, developing education, coordinating direct intervention programs, tracking disease, and conducting research.

OBJECTIVE(S):
Protect adults in Florida from hepatitis and its adverse consequences by providing hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine in sites currently serving at-risk adults.

METHOD(S):
In March, 2001, the Florida Adult Hepatitis Immunization Program expanded to include the all 61 Florida counties not receiving hepatitis funding. The Program made available, at no cost to the counties, the hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine for use in adult populations at increased risk for hepatitis or its adverse consequences, following the CDC and State guidelines. The vaccine is available to counties at no charge, but the counties do not receive any funding for personnel or supplies to provide the vaccine.

RESULT(S):
As of 9/14/01, 36 Florida counties (60 % of eligible counties) have begun to participate in the adult hepatitis vaccination program, with no resources except the vaccine. Approximately 5,000 doses of hepatitis A vaccine and 10,000 doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been ordered by the counties. The vaccine is administered through many different venues, including STD, HIV/AIDS, immunization, and epidemiology clinics, community-based organizations, and jails.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Public health providers, together with community partners, are willing and able to provide hepatitis immunization services to high risk adults, even with no resources other than the vaccine. Availability of the vaccines, together with the counties' freedom to integrate hepatitis vaccination services into other programmatic areas, are the key to maximizing very limited hepatitis program resources.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will be able to describe the components
of the Florida Statewide Hepatitis Adult Immunization Program, assess the program strengths and weaknesses, and understand future program directions.