Hepatitis A Walk-In Vaccination Clinics  

Tuesdays & Thursdays through March 2010

8AM to Noon and 1 to 4:30 PM

Rock Island County Health Department

2112 25th Ave.        Rock Island, Illinois

No Appointments Necessary

Cost $50

In July 2009 the Rock Island County Health Department responded to a Hepatitis A outbreak linked to a Milan fast food restaurant .  To protect individuals exposed to the illness who had eaten at the restaurant during the time period that a food handler was infectious, Hepatitis A vaccinations or immunoglobulin injections were provided.  People 40 years of age and younger received the Hepatitis A vaccine and individuals older than 40 years were given immunoglobulin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, providing prophylaxis within 14 days after eating infected food should provide a window of protection.

If longer term immunity is desired, a booster dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine must be given six months or more after the first dose.  In the case of those individuals receiving immunoglobulin, two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine at least six months apart must be given.   The six month interval from the initial vaccinations is February 2010.  A second dose will provide maximum protection against future Hepatitis A illness.

The first Hepatitis A vaccinations were given at no charge by the Rock Island County Health Department as a public health response to an outbreak.  They were adminstered to prevent illness in those exposed to Hepatitis A and to prevent the spread of the illness to others.  Since the second dose is not part of the illness response, there is a moderate charge.

About Hepatitis A 

Hepatitis A is a virus which causes an inflammation of the liver. It generally causes illness by the hand to mouth route.  It can be carried on the hands of an individual who does not wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom.  Foodhandlers with contaminated hands can infect food or drink that they prepare.  The disease can also be acquired through water contaminated with sewage.   Hepatitis A can be transmitted in day care settings especially if good hand hygiene is not practiced after diaper changes.

The contagious period for Hepatitis A is approximately two weeks before symptoms appear and about one week after the onset of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes).  Symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine and jaundice.  Most individuals will recover in about a week and not everyone who is infected will demonstrate all the symptoms.  Treatment usually involves rest and supportive measures.  There are no long term side effects of this illness.  When an individual recovers, they will have life-time immunity. 

Other Types of Hepatitis

There are several other types of Hepatitis all caused by different viruses.  Please visit the following links for further information.

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis D