Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of this presentation participants will be able to describe a method to successfully implement and track hepatitis B/hepatitis A vaccine for incarcerated adults.

Background:
Incarcerated individuals have a high rate of both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A infection. Generally, the incarcerated will at some time be returned to the general population in the community. Prevention of hepatitis B and hepatitis A infection in the incarcerated population might also decrease the incidence of diesase in the community. The transient nature of the incarcerated makes it difficlut to administer and track the three dose combination Hepatitis B/Hepatitis A series.

Setting:
The Suffolk County Correctional Facility at Riverhead, NY is a maximum security facility located in a suburban area which houses inmates for terms up to two years. Suffolk County Department of Health Services provides the medical care in the facility.

Population:
Inmates are both male and female and range in age from 18 years through adulthood. Recidivism is high in the facility population.

Project Description:
The nursing and medical staff identified the evidence based risk for hepatitis B and Hepatitis A in incarcerated populations. The New York State Department of Health offered to supply TwinRix (Hepatitis B/Hepatitis A) vaccine to the correctional facility at no charge. Standing orders for immunizations are the policy for SCDHS. The nursing staff developed and implemented a program to administer and track immunizations.

Results/Lessons Learned:
A successful immunization program was implemented providing inmates with at least one dose of TwinRix and in many cases completing the vaccine series before the inmates were released or finishing the series during subsequent incarcerations.