CVS Health offers hepatitis A vaccine amid Florida county uptick

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As Florida’s Broward County sees an uptick in hepatitis A cases, CVS Health is encouraging patients in the area to get vaccinated. So far this year, the county has seen 34 cases of hepatitis A — an increase over the typical seven cases annually, according to the Florida Department of Health.

CVS Health said its 10 MinuteClinic locations in Broward County are stocked with the hepatitis A vaccine, and the vaccine is available at its 76 CVS Pharmacy locations in the county on a walk-in basis.

"Immunizations are an important part of preventive care and a critical way to prevent the spread of serious illness, like Hepatitis A," MinuteClinic chief medical officer Dr. Tobias Barker said. "Our MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and CVS Pharmacy pharmacists are able to provide vaccinations to Floridians who may have been exposed to the virus or who are unaware of their vaccination status. They can also help ensure that patients stay up to date on vaccinations in the future."

The vaccine can offer protection against the illness if given within two weeks of exposure. Those who have had hepatitis A before or have previously received two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine don’t need to be immunized again, the company said. At MinuteClinic, patients ages 18 months and older, while CVS pharmacists can administer it to adults ages 18 years and older.