Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC)
The Adult Vaccine Access Coalition focuses on raising awareness, improving access, and increasing utilization of vaccines among adults. While the hepatitis B vaccine has been successfully integrated into the childhood vaccination schedule, contributing to a 96% decline in the incidence of acute hepatitis B in children and adolescents, approximately 95% of new HBV infections occur among adults.
Despite Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, vaccines have been consistently underutilized in the adult population and lag far behind the Healthy People 2020 goals for most commonly recommended vaccines, such as hepatitis B. Disparities are even greater among at-risk populations, including seniors and individuals with chronic illnesses.
In addition, the opioid epidemic has contributed to an increase in acute hepatitis B infection among young people who inject drugs (PWID). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that PWIDs get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
ACIP Testimony on HEPLISAV-B Hepatitis Vaccine February 21, 2018
NVHR supports the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation of the HEPLISAV-B hepatitis B vaccine.