Planning and Execution of a Successful Hepatitis B Immunization Program

Abstract

Today's college students occupy a “window” between older adults, whose need for hepatitis B vaccination is minimal, and younger people who receive the vaccine as part of their childhood immunization series. However, because of the high-risk activities that are often part of student behavior, college students are among the individuals who are at the highest risk for this disease; 75% of all reported hepatitis B cases occur in persons between the ages of 15 and 39 years. It is therefore imperative that college health professionals take seriously their responsibility to educate students about issues related to hepatitis B and make available programs that enable the students to receive immunizations. This article briefly describes a successful hepatitis B education and immunization program at an institution that has no mandatory prematriculation immunization requirements.

Key Words:

• health education
• hepatitis B
• immunizations
• university students

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janet L. Hurley

The authors are all with the University of Kentucky Health Service, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington. Janet L. Hurley is associate director and administrator, H. Spencer Turner is director, and Karen M. Butler is director of nursing.