The Vanguardian, Issue #1: April 1998
[NB: The text of this article has been updated since this newsletter was first published.]
An outbreak of hepatitis A began in late 1997 in Vancouver, and about half of the reported cases were among gay and bisexual men.
Although generally
not as serious as hepatitis B and C, hep A is more contagious
and can make you very ill. Mild cases of hep A can resemble the
flu, but some people who get it have to be hospitalized, and the
disease can be particularly dangerous -- and sometimes even fatal
-- for people with HIV/AIDS.
The hep A virus is spread primarily through oral contact with fecal matter (i.e. getting shit in your mouth). Rimming is the most efficient route of transmission, but the virus can also be spread by not washing your hands after fingering, fisting and handling used condoms. People who don't wash their hands after using the washroom can also spread the virus through food preparation.
The vaccine for Hep A is available free of charge at all street clinics in Vancouver. If you would like to be vaccinated by Vanguard nurse Mary Lou Miller, please call her at 808-9868 or e-mail her at <MLouM@ican.net> to make an appointment. She can arrange to meet you at either the Vanguard office (at the Gay & Lesbian Centre), or at the Downtown South Community Health Centre. You can also get vaccinated for free at your doctor's office.
Some test sites may want to verify that you fit into a risk category before giving you the vaccine for free. Risk categories for hepatitis A include gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men.
The full vaccine for hepatitis A actually involves two shots given six to 12 months apart. The first shot provides immunity for at least a year, and the second shot makes you immune for life. Most test sites will ask you to return within a year to receive the second shot.
Please note that if you've ever had hepatitis A, you will have already developed a lifetime immunity to it, so there would be no point in getting vaccinated.
Some test sites may also ask you to participate in a study to determine what percentage of people already have antibodies to hep A but don't know it. If you agree to participate, you'll be asked to complete a brief confidential form about demographics, risk categories and risk behaviours, and you'll be asked to provide a saliva sample to test for the presence of hep A antibodies.
Please note that the vaccine for hepatitis B, involving a series of three shots, is also available free of charge to gay and bisexual men, at medical clinics or from your doctor.
FOR MORE INFO ON HEPATITIS: