Viral hepatitis is a disease of major public health significance in the United States with most infection caused by three viruses, hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (1). Although unrelated, they share a similar symptomatology (2). HBV and HCV can produce chronic infection that is associated with chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Because 70–85% of those acutely infected with HCV become chronically infected, HCV is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States (3).
The vaccine for HAV has been recommended for travelers since 1995; children and others at risk since 2006 (4). The vaccine for HBV has been recommended for infants, older children and adolescents not previously vaccinated since 1991, and adults at risk since the early 1980s (5,6). No vaccine currently exists for HCV. Effective antiviral treatments are available for HBV infection to halt progressive liver damage (7) and for hepatitis C to achieve “sustained virologic response” (i.e., virologic cure).
