HEP A Immunization and Other Resources for Preventing a Major Outbreak

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Public Health – Seattle and King County continues to expand its campaign to prevent a major Hepititis A outbreak among people living homeless.  We are also expanding our collaboration with homeless services providers to quickly and urgently build awareness for staff and clients about the most important steps that we can collectively and immediately take.  PLEASE share this message and attachments widely within your organization—from executive leaders to program managers to supervisors to front line staff.  And please ensure that the flyers we are including a widely posted.

Flyers to share and reference:

Here are some specific updates that relate to the attached flyers: 

  1. The list of walk-in, low-barrier sites for homeless residents to receive a Hep A vaccination has expanded.  These flyers provide information on the current sites: Here are 3 flyers that provide the current sites: one for Seattle, one for South King County, and one for East King County.
  2. Reducing the risk of Hep A (and other highly contagious diseases) spreading at shelters and other service sites requires that ALL SITES create and implement a routine cleaning schedule that includes certain disinfection protocols.  So Public Health has created the flyer: Guidelines for Routine Cleaning and Disinfection. 
    • Note that the routine cleaning practices outlined in the new flyer are different from the much more intensive response that is required at any site has been notified by Public Health that a person with infectious Hep A has likely visited the site.  We have created the Final Hep A Clean Up flyer with instructions for the more intensive clean up.  (Both flyers include specific instructions on safely cleaning/disinfecting when there is vomit or diarrhea present.)
  3. In addition to sharing/following the instructions contained in the routine cleaning flyer and Hep A clean up flyer, homeless service provider agencies can help prevent a major outbreak by making sure staff and clients are aware of the following critical information about cleaning and hygiene:
    • Basic cleaning and hygiene helps prevent the spread of hepatitis A. We recommend that all shelters do the following:
      • Provide convenient handwashing stations with soap, warm running water, and paper towels
      • Ensure all toilets have toilet paper
      • Create, implement, and post a regular cleaning schedule:
        • Hourly: check that bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper, towels, and that warm water is functioning
        • Daily: Clean and sanitize all bathroom surfaces that are regularly touched using soap and water, commercial cleaning spray, and a paper towel, or cleaning wipes
        • If there is vomit, diarrhea or blood, or if you know someone with hep A was at your shelter:
          • Follow full cleaning and disinfection guidelines (see factsheet)
          • Remind staff/volunteers that good hand hygiene is one of the most effective steps in preventing hepatitis A and many other infectious diseases. Consider posting hand washing signage at all sinks. Hand washing should always occur after going to the bathroom, handling laundry, and cleaning, and before eating, drinking, or smoking. Hand sanitizers can be stocked but they are not effective against hepatitis A virus and should not replace regular handwashing.

Thank you for your help in spreading this information and collaborating with Public Health to do all we can do together to prevent an outbreak.  FYI…Check out a Real Change article in 5/1/2019’s edition that provides an overview of these efforts and also lists immunization locations: