Hepatitis A Framework

Prevention

Goal

Prevent the acquisition and transmission of the hepatitis A virus.

Strategies

  • Promote the use of effective risk reduction interventions and strategies.
  • Ensure access to hepatitis A vaccination for persons and communities at-risk.
  • Improve vaccination rates among children.
  • Increase the provision of timely referrals for comprehensive sexual health-related services.
  • Integrate hepatitis A counseling, screening, vaccination and referral services into existing service delivery systems.
  • Emphasize the importance of sanitary conditions and personal hygiene among persons at greater risk.

Education

Goal

Build knowledge and awareness of hepatitis A diseases, prevention, risk, treatment and medical management.

Strategies

  • Increase the knowledge of hepatitis A among the general public.
  • Improve and expand the knowledge of hepatitis A among health and human service providers.
  • Ensure access to culturally-sensitive and linguistically appropriate educational messages for persons, populations and communities at-risk.
  • Foster appropriate screening practices for hepatitis A.

Surveillance and Research

Goal

Determine accurate incidence rates for use in conjunction with available research findings to guide decision making.

Strategies

  • Secure adequate resources for state and local surveillance activities.
  • Improve capacity for complete and accurate disease reporting among laboratories and providers.
  • Use surveillance data to better inform recommendations for hepatitis A.
  • Improve the epidemiologic investigation and response capacity to community outbreaks.
  • Develop and evaluate evidence-based interventions for hepatitis A prevention.
  • Conduct hepatitis A-related research to advance prevention.

Medical Care and Treatment

Goal

Develop and maintain an infrastructure to provide the highest quality of hepatitis A care.

Strategies

  • Ensure provider access to current guidelines, regulations and recommendations for hepatitis A diagnosis and prevention.
  • Assure timely access to hepatitis A diagnosis, care and post-exposure prophylaxis.
  • Ensure timely access to sexual health-related services.

Policy and Planning

Goal

Foster an effective policy and planning environment at the local, state and national levels.

Strategies

  • Maintain an adequate statutory and regulatory environment for hepatitis A prevention.
  • Base policy development and decisions on credible information.
  • Ensure an inclusive approach to policy development and program planning.
  • Provide policy makers with information on the impact of challenges and unmet needs related to hepatitis A.
  • Assure the capacity of statewide systems to support hepatitis A-related goals.
  • Reduce hepatitis A-related health disparities and cultural barriers.