Hepatitis B Education Effort Targets Colleges

"Get the Facts. Then Get the Vax," exhorts the Hepatitis B Campus Prevention Program, a nationwide effort launched last week to alert college-aged adults to the highly contagious, potentially deadly disease.

The campaign is the first of its kind, according to Foundation Executive Director Richard Duma.

Hepatitis B is on the rise among college-aged adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Since more than one third of the 300,000 Americans infected with the virus each year are young adults, the campaign targets this group for immunization.

Hepatitis B is 100 times more contagious than AIDS, and is spread in a similar fashion through contact with blood and other bodily fluids. One in 20 people is presently infected with the virus, according to campaign literature.

Safe, readily available vaccination for the disease is 95 percent effective, Duma said.

"Vaccines are generally the most valuable protection against disease," said Eleanor Shore, dean for faculty affairs at Harvard Medical School.

Since Hepatitis B first received widespread attention as AIDS was emerging as a national concern, hepatitis B has not received much media attention, a staffer for the campaign said.

"A lot of people who are really concerned about AIDS are at even greater risk for hepatitis B," said Peter J. Zuromskis '66, chief of University Health Services' Acute Care unit. "When people are screened for any STD we encourage hepatitis B screen ing and inoculation where appropriate."

Shore said UHS provides free immunization forall high-risk university affiliates--people whowork with blood, are sexually active, receiveblood transfusions, frequently travelinternationally or use intravenous drugs.

"If they fall into the risk factors, theyqualify, no questions asked, and the vaccine isprovided, no questions asked," Shore said.

For people not in high risk groups, UHS charges$150 for the vaccination, Shore said.

Although UHS-affiliated student outreach groupsdistribute information regarding sexuallytransmitted diseases, they have no special agendafor combating the spread of hepatitis B, accordingto Peer Contraceptive Counselors co-director PaulM. Magwene '93

Shore said UHS provides free immunization forall high-risk university affiliates--people whowork with blood, are sexually active, receiveblood transfusions, frequently travelinternationally or use intravenous drugs.

"If they fall into the risk factors, theyqualify, no questions asked, and the vaccine isprovided, no questions asked," Shore said.

For people not in high risk groups, UHS charges$150 for the vaccination, Shore said.

Although UHS-affiliated student outreach groupsdistribute information regarding sexuallytransmitted diseases, they have no special agendafor combating the spread of hepatitis B, accordingto Peer Contraceptive Counselors co-director PaulM. Magwene '93