Eaton County has a status of a hepatitis A county, so the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is adding off-site clinics to which individuals can get vaccinated against hepatitis A.
These clinics are scheduled for April 5 at Real Life Church in Charlotte at 6:00 p.m. and April 12 at Eaton Clothing and Furniture at 10:00 a.m. The health department said that there may be more clinics added in the month.
The off-site clinics are intended for those with high risk of the disease.
BEDHD considers the following to be high risk:
Persons who use illegal drugs
• Persons who are homeless or move around a lot
• Persons who are or were recently in jail or prison
• Men who have sex with men
• Persons with an acute or chronic liver disease
If you fall in a high risk group, your vaccination is free. If you are not in a high-risk group, you can still receive the vaccine but you'll need to show your insurance card.
Five cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in Eaton County since December 2017 and one person has died. Twenty-four deaths have been reported across Michigan since the outbreak started in August 2016.
