J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2024 Sep-Oct;64(5):102150. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102150. Epub 2024 Jun 28.
The number of new infections of hepatitis B is rising and a large number of cases are undiagnosed. These factors are contributing to hepatitis B-related liver complications, including liver cancer, and deaths that could be prevented. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated vaccination and screening/testing recommendations for hepatitis B. The updated recommendations remove the need for risk assessment before screening or vaccination. Pharmacists will play a key role in a concerted national effort to implement these updated recommendations. A multistakeholder advisory council convened by the Hepatitis B Foundation identified key barriers to screening and vaccination. The council also formulated strategies to optimize implementation of the updated recommendations. These strategies include educating pharmacists about the new recommendations and how they will help to reduce the burden of hepatitis B and liver cancer. Pharmacists could explore establishing pharmacy-provider collaborative practice agreements and potentially leverage capacity built with COVID-19 vaccine implementation. Hospital systems and other clinic settings could update their electronic health records to include prompts for hepatitis B vaccination and screening. Pharmacy systems can implement different reminder options to help patients complete the hepatitis B vaccine series. To address a lack of vaccine confidence, pharmacists can emphasize the cancer prevention benefit of hepatitis B screening and vaccination and engage with patients on an individual level to understand their concerns, assess vaccine status, and discuss vaccine recommendations. Effective implementation of the new recommendations will help achieve national and global goals of eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030.
乙型肝炎新感染人数不断上升，且大量病例未被诊断。这些因素导致了乙型肝炎相关的肝脏并发症，包括肝癌和本可预防的死亡。免疫实践咨询委员会和疾病控制与预防中心最近更新了乙型肝炎的疫苗接种和筛查/检测建议。更新后的建议取消了筛查或接种前进行风险评估的要求。药剂师将在全国范围内共同努力实施这些更新建议方面发挥关键作用。乙型肝炎基金会召集的多利益相关方顾问委员会确定了筛查和接种的主要障碍。该委员会还制定了优化实施更新建议的策略。这些策略包括教育药剂师了解新建议，以及它们将如何有助于减轻乙型肝炎和肝癌的负担。药剂师可以探索建立药房-医疗服务提供者合作实践协议，并可能利用与 COVID-19 疫苗实施相关的能力。医院系统和其他诊所可以更新其电子健康记录，以包括乙型肝炎疫苗接种和筛查的提示。药房系统可以实施不同的提醒选项，以帮助患者完成乙型肝炎疫苗系列接种。为了解决疫苗信心不足的问题，药剂师可以强调乙型肝炎筛查和接种的癌症预防益处，并在个人层面上与患者接触，了解他们的担忧，评估疫苗接种状况，并讨论疫苗接种建议。新建议的有效实施将有助于实现到 2030 年消除乙型肝炎作为公共卫生威胁的国家和全球目标。
