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Eradication of Hepatitis B: A Nationwide Community Coalition Approach to Improving Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care

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Abstract

Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant public health concern in the US, disproportionately affecting Americans of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent, despite the availability of a simple blood test, approved treatments, and an effective vaccine. Hep B United, a national campaign to support and leverage the success of community-based HBV coalitions, convened a partner summit in 2012 to develop a strategic response to the HHS Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. The resulting community action plan focuses on advancing three areas of the HHS plan: educating providers and communities to reduce health disparities; improving testing and linkage to care to prevent HBV-related liver disease and cancer; and eliminating perinatal HBV transmission.

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Acknowledgments

The recommendations contained in this article stem from the first Hep B United National Summit, hosted by the Hepatitis B Foundation and AAPCHO, and funded in part by a grant from the HHS Office of Minority Health. The authors thank the community coalitions, non-profit organizations, and federal partners who participated in the summit and contributed to the development of the action plan: Carol Brosgart, MD, Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition, CDC; Kuan-Lung Daniel Chen, MPH, CPH, Hepatitis B Foundation; Moon Chen, PhD, MPH, Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training; Shane Chen, Asian American Health Coalition/Hope Clinic; Ryan Clary, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable; Molli Conti, Hepatitis B Foundation; Corinna Dan, RN, MPH, Office of HIV/AIDS, HHS; Doan Dao, MD, Dallas-Fort Worth Hep B Free; Karen Jiobu, Ohio Asian American Health Coalition; Cynthia Jorgensen, DrPH, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC; Sophie Kwon, HHS Office of Minority Health; Hong Liu, PhD, Midwest Asian Health Association; Heather Lusk, The CHOW Project and Hep Free Hawaii; Kate Moraras, MPH, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Kim Nguyen, MSW, Hepatitis B Coalition of WA/Within Reach; Jane Pan, Hepatitis B Initiative-DC; Su Wang, MD, MPH, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center; Aurora Wong, Las Vegas Hep B Free. Assistance with preparation of the manuscript was provided by Theresa Wizemann, PhD, of Wizemann Scientific Communications, LLC, under contract with the Hepatitis B Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hepatitis B Foundation, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA

    Chari Cohen & Joan Block

  2. Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Oakland, CA, USA

    Jeffrey Caballero, Melinda Martin, Isha Weerasinghe & Michelle Ninde

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  1. Chari Cohen
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  2. Jeffrey Caballero
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  3. Melinda Martin
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  4. Isha Weerasinghe
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  5. Michelle Ninde
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  6. Joan Block
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Correspondence to Chari Cohen.

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Cohen, C., Caballero, J., Martin, M. et al. Eradication of Hepatitis B: A Nationwide Community Coalition Approach to Improving Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care. J Community Health 38, 799–804 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9699-4

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