Hepatitis B vaccination of adolescents--California, Louisiana, and Oregon, 1992-1994

Abstract

Although hepatitis B vaccine has been available in the United States since 1982, acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a public health problem. The comprehensive national strategy to prevent HBV transmission includes hepatitis B vaccination of adolescents, particularly in communities with high rates of injecting-drug use, teenage pregnancy, and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, vaccination of adolescents may be difficult because of their lack of routine health-care visits. This report describes hepatitis B vaccination programs for adolescents and preadolescents in schools and other settings in California, Louisiana, and Oregon during 1992-1994.