By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Officials with the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) in Nashville, TN report the hepatitis A outbreak increased by seven cases in the past month, bringing the total to 226 confirmed cases since December 2017.

Hepatitis A Vaccine
Image/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Work continues to reach three at-risk groups at greatest risk of exposure to hepatitis A, which includes people who use drugs (not just injection drug use), men who have sexual contact with men and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Health Department and community partners have provided free vaccine to more than 14,700 people in Nashville since the outbreak was announced in late May of 2018. The total vaccinated does not include vaccine given by private providers.

Vaccination initiatives will continue in an effort to end the year-long outbreak, including working with organizations that serve the homeless, reaching out to the LGBTQ community, working with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office to vaccinate DCSO inmates, and efforts to reach those who use drugs.

MPHD continues to offer free hepatitis A vaccine at all three of its Health Department Centers to the three risk groups.  MPHD continues to receive additional doses of hepatitis A vaccine from TDH and more vaccine is available as needed.


MPHD operates three health centers open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday:

  • East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
  • Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue
  • Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue

MPHD has an agreement with Neighborhood Health to provide hepatitis A vaccine at the three following Neighborhood Health locations:

Downtown Clinic, 526 8th Avenue South (adjacent to the Room in the Inn campus)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

My House Clinic, 442 Metroplex Drive, Building D, Suite 200
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday

Eastside Medical and Dental Clinic, 905 Main Street
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Statewide, Tennessee has reported 2,257 outbreak cases (60 percent hospitalized) since December 2017, including 13 deaths.