Commandant
2100 2nd Street S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-WKH-1
Phone: (202) 267-2073
COMDTINST 6230.8A
04 DEC 1998
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 6230.8A
Subj:
HEPATITIS A IMMUNIZATIONS AND PROPHYLAXIS
Ref:
(a)
Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis, COMDTINST M6230.4E
1.
PURPOSE. To establish policy and guidelines regarding immunization and prophylaxis
against Hepatitis A virus.
2.
ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics
commands, commanding officers of headquarters units, assistant commandants for
directorates, Chief Counsel, and special staff officers at headquarters shall comply with the
procedures of this Instruction.
3.
DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. The contents of this Instruction will be incorporated into the
next change to reference (a).
4.
BACKGROUND.
a.
Hepatitis A infection, a disease of the liver, is acquired primarily via the fecal-oral route
by either person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food or water. It occurs
worldwide, mostly in sporadic epidemics. Risk of infection with Hepatitis A virus
(HAV) is highest in developing countries where environmental sanitation and personal
hygiene are poor. When infection occurs at a young age, it is often asymptomatic. In
adults, however, HAV usually causes an illness of several weeks duration. This illness
is characterized by fever, malaise, jaundice, and abdominal discomfort. Recent data
indicate that at least a third of U. S. born adults already have lifetime immunity, due to
prior infection.
b.
Since transmission of HAV occurs through direct or indirect contact with fecal matter
(i.e., via the fecal-oral route), the risk of infection can be greatly reduced through
standard public health measures. These include basic sanitation and routine food
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