title: Implementation of a hepatitis A/B vaccination program using an accelerated schedule among high-risk inmates, Los Angeles County Jail, 2007-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vaccination for men who have sex with men (MSM) and injection drug users against hepatitis A and B. This study is the first report of a hepatitis vaccination program in a United States jail with a combined vaccine using an accelerated schedule. Los Angeles County has the largest jail system in the nation and Men's Central Jail (MCJ) is the largest facility within that system. MCJ includes a unit for self-identified MSM, where approximately 2700 inmates are housed per year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Starting in August 2007, a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine was offered to all inmates housed in this special unit. Using an accelerated schedule (0-, 7-, 21-30 days, 12-month booster), a total of 3931 doses were administered to 1633 inmates as of June 2010. Of those, 77% received 2 doses, 58% received 3 doses, and 11% received the booster dose. Inmates who screened positive for a sexually transmitted infection in this unit were 1.3 times more likely to be vaccinated (95% CI 1.2-1.4) compared to others in the same housing unit who screened negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis vaccination initiatives can be successfully implemented in an urban jail among an extremely high-risk population using the accelerated, combined hepatitis A/B vaccine. Ours may be a useful model for other programs to vaccinate incarcerated populations.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Unit, Medical Services Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costumbrado
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stirland
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Alvin Nelson
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: El-Amin
authors.forename: Armidia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines