For the second consecutive summer, Hep Team Chicago is raising awareness about the vaccine-preventable strains of hepatitis, A and B.
Last year, the team held a kick-off party at Roscoe’s. This year, the team dealt with a much larger audience as it spread information through the crowd that attended the Pride Parade, held June 25. Using grassroots-style tactics, the team provided information, engaged in conversation and even drove people to get vaccinated at the Chicago Department of Public Health’s vaccination site at Montrose Harbor.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B, also referred to as vaccine-preventable hepatitis, are serious liver diseases more prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) than among the general population. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) recommend that all MSM get vaccinated. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two of only three sexually transmitted diseases for which vaccination is available.
Now, the Hep Team Chicago’s outreach campaign has become a national model. In addition to Chicago’s outreach effort, there are Hep Team programs in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Over 600 vaccines were distributed in these three cities during their Pride celebrations. Hep Team Chicago will continue to provide outreach throughout the summer at such events as teh Gay Games and Northalsted Market Days.
Hep Team Chicago and the Hep Team Gay Games are supported in part by the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. Additional informationis available at www.hepteamchicago.com.
Hep Team Gay Games will be conducting outreach throughout the week atthe Hilton, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Atlantis Parties, theChoral Concert at Millennium Park, and numerous sporting eventsthroughout Chicago.