The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department will provide free hepatitis A vaccinations to members of the homeless population at the Chattanooga Public Library's downtown branch on Wednesday.
Shots will be available without appointment from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Hepatitis A infected more than 50 people in Hamilton County and claimed the lives of two Tennesseans last year during a multi-state outbreak that started in 2017.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while anyone can get hepatitis A certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as:
- People with direct contact with someone who has hepatitis A;
- Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common;
- Men who have sexual contact with men;
- People who use drugs, both injection and non-injection drugs;
- Household members or caregivers of a recent adoptee from countries where hepatitis A is common;
- People with clotting factor disorders, such as hemophilia.
For more information on hepatitis A, contact the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department at 423-209-8000.