Hepatitis - Vaccines and Treatments
The good news is that you can and should get vaccinated against hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV). There are programs that offer these vaccines for free, or at a very low price. They are covered by most health care plans and government programs.
If you have hepatitis that did not go away when you first contracted it (that's called chronic hepatitis), the good news is that the number of existing and new treatments being tested for the treatment of hepatitis and its complications (such as diabetes or cancer) has really increased just in the last few years. Pretty much everyone agrees that getting treated before your liver becomes damaged is better than waiting until later. But getting Hepatitis A and B vaccinations - if you already haven't had those diseases - and connecting with a doctor or health care team with experience is the first thing you need to do after getting tested. This may be the same doctor who tested you for hepatitis, in some cases, but a specialist called a hepatologist or GI doc (gastroenterologist) is usually sometimes brought in as well.
Hepatitis Resources
- Viral Hepatitis Vaccine Info - Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The American Liver Foundation (ALF) - This organization has chapters that links you to clinical trials, support groups, oppportunities for volunteering, promotion of liver health and disease prevention and much more in most states and regions.
- The Immunization Action Coalition - These people know vaccines, including Hepatitis vaccines. They are a non-profit organization that collaborates with high profile medical associations and groups. Mainly for health care providers, but the amount of information and free materials they provide is great.
Hepatitis Treatment
- Free/low cost National HCV Testing Sites
- Veterans Hepatitis Testing/Care Centers
- Doctor Search (HCV Advocate)
- AASLD (Liver Society) Doctor Search
- American Medical Association Docs
- Hepatitis B Foundation Treatment Watch
Hepatitis and/or HIV Treatment Information
- NIDDK Hepatitis Information Resources (includes many publications)
- HIV Provider Directory Search (HIVMA)
- New - Research agenda and access to experimental hepatitis-C drugs for people co-infected with HIV (EATG)
- TAG Hepatitis C Co-Infection Project
- Experimental HCV Drugs
- Hepatitis Research and Treatment News
- http://www.hcvadvocate.org
- HCV Drug Discovery
- The Simple Facts Project - www.atdn.org
- http://www.hepato.com
- Solid Organ Transplantation in HIV
- HCV Study Design(FDA Slides,PDF PPT)
Louisiana Program Contacts - Louisiana specific contact information for different programs through which you can access a variety of services. Includes links to other resources. 
Case Management, Health Care and Support Services :
Find a health care provider, case management services, or service providers and community organizations in Louisiana, including the AIDS Education and Training Center in your region.
Accessing HIV or Hepatitis Treatments and other Resources : The treatments and services covered in Louisiana and other potential sources of treatments for people with HIV or Hepatitis are also listed. 
Hepatitis Treatment, Care and other Resources : Louisiana Hepatitis vaccination, immunization, treatment coverage for hepatitis, including HCV and HBVHepatitis Treatments and Vaccines
Hepatitis B Treatments- entecavir (Baraclude)
- lamivudine (Epivir-HBV)
- interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)
- adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera)
- peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
- telbivudine (Tyzeka)
Hepatitis C Treatments
- interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)
- recombinant interferon alfa-2a (Roferon)
- consensus interferon or interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen)
- peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
- peginterferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron)
- peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) + ribavirin (Copegus)
- peginterferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) and ribavirin (Rebetol)
- interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) and ribavirin (Rebetol)
- recombinant interferon alfa-2a (Roferon) and ribavirin
Hepatitis A Vaccines
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Combination Hepatitis A and B Vaccines
There are many factors involved in your decisions and we recommend you find out everything you can about your liver and hepatitis, then contact The Network or another organization or your doctor and start asking questions. You could even prevent liver cancer and avoid a lot of complications in the near or distant future. Not knowing you have chronic hepatitis or another liver condition works against you in many ways. There are many links on this page to organizations and agencies that offer information and resources.
