Brad Beasley, MS and Daniel McEachern, MS. STD/HIV Prevention and Intervention, Metro Public Health Department, 311 23rd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-340-5676, brad.beasley@nashville.gov

In the year 2000, in Nashville, Tennessee, 22 of the 44 reported new cases of Hepatitis A were in the adult MSM population. To address this situation, reduction of new adult Hepatitis A cases was established as a long term goal of the Metro Public Health Department. In March 2001 the Health Department implemented a free, on-going Hepatitis vaccination program utilizing an established, non-traditional HIV/Syphilis testing program in the adult MSM community. The primary venues are gay bars, with community events and organizational meetings supporting those who do not go to bars. Both monovalent Hepatitis A and B vaccine, as well as combined vaccine are offered at no charge. The program has vaccinated 674 people since March of 2001, and Nashville has experienced a drop in new MSM Hepatitis A cases from a peak of 25 in 2001 down to 1 case in 2003.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Identify areas of increased Hepatitis A morbidity in socially stratified subgroups of the MSM community.
• Identify and assess local resources that can be utilized in a vaccination/education program.
• Develop a program tailored to the needs of the local community.
• Measure the outcome and evaluate the program based on reduction of morbidity over a specific period of time.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.