Effective April 17, 2020, the hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine has been added to the PrEP-AP formulary. The combination HAV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is already on the PrEP-AP formulary.
Although vaccine preventable, since March 2017, multiple states have had hepatitis A outbreaks spread through person-to-person contact. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends HAV vaccine for all children and for people who are at risk for acquiring HAV infection. Groups at the highest risk for HAV infection overlap substancially with people who have indications for PrEP including people who inject drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men. Given this overlap, PrEP initiation may be an optimal time to assess for the need for HAV vaccination.
The vaccine is available to PrEP-AP clients for administration in a clinical setting. PrEP-AP Policy Provider Memo 2020-02: Physician-Administered Medication has been updated to reflect the addition of the HAV vaccine and provides instruction for providers to bill PrEP-AP for administration.
ADAP management requests that you share this information with your clinical leadership team and local prescribers. The PrEP-AP formulary has been updated to reflect the addition of this vaccine; it can be accessed at the following link: https://cdphprep-ap.magellanrx.com/member/documents.
If you have any questions regarding the addition of the hepatitis A vaccine to the PrEP-AP formulary, please contact Cynthia Reed-Aguayo, ADAP Specialist, at (916) 449-5791.
Thank you,
Sandra Robinson, MBA
ADAP Branch Chief
California Department of Public Health