Hepatitis A and the Hep A vaccine

In a topic that has not received nearly enough attention-- since 2016, the US has seen the largest person-to-person Hepatitis A virus outbreak in the post-vaccine era. About two thirds of the states have declared outbreaks which includes tens of thousands of cases with 60% hospitalizations and more than 300 deaths. In Kansas, the most recent state to declare an outbreak, the hospitalization rate stands at 88%! In my state, Florida, while the outbreak cases are trending downward, dozens of cases are still reported on a monthly basis. Joining me today to discuss hepatitis and the highly effective vaccine is practicing physician, vaccine researcher and Vice President and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health for Vaccines at Glaxo SmithKline, Dr Leonard Friedland.