For hepatitis A, high-risk populations include:

• travelers to developing countries with high rates of hepatitis A, including Mexico;
• men who have sex with men;
• users of illegal drugs;
• people who work with hepatitis A virus in research settings;
• people who work with infected non-human primates;
• recipients of clotting factor concentrates; and
• people with chronic liver disease

Vaccination of Hepatitis B
Although the overall incidence of hepatitis B is decreasing, for the large part due to a childhood vaccination program that started about 20 years ago, there is still a relatively high rate of hepatitis B amongst adults. In 2003, there were an estimated 73,000 people infected with HBV in the US. Although the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have issued vaccination recommendations, Eugene R Schiff,MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Hepatology and Director of the Center for Liver Diseases at the University of Miami School of Medicine and world-renowned hepatologist, feels these guidelines do not go far enough.

“According to guidelines, an individual over the age of 19 would not have been vaccinated, and that’s a huge issue. Adults over 19, particularly those who are unattached, are a particularly vulnerable group where we continue to see acute hepatitis B, sometimes even fulminant hepatitis B.” He continues, “if it were up to me, I would certainly vaccinate anybody who is sexually active. Recently, I had two separate cases where two women, one widowed and one divorced, went on cruises, met sexual partners and contracted hepatitis B. Both almost died. This goes to show that vaccinations should be extended beyond age 19.”