About the STD Control Branch, Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section
Numerous programs within the Division of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC) and Office of AIDS (OA) of the Center for Infectious Diseases address viral hepatitis. The DCDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Control Branch, Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section collaborates across these efforts and works to support including viral hepatitis into syndemic approaches to HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Below is an overview of the CDPH programs that address viral hepatitis in California, which are guided by the Ending the Epidemics: Addressing HIV, Hepatitis C, and STIs in California - Integrated Statewide Strategic Plan Overview, 2022–2026 (PDF).
Disease Investigation
The DCDC Immunization Branch provides technical assistance and resources to support local health departments in conducting acute hepatitis A and hepatitis B case investigations.
The DCDC STD Control Branch provides technical assistance and resources to support local health departments in conducting acute, chronic, and perinatal hepatitis C case investigations.
The DCDC Infectious Diseases Branchconducts investigation, surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases, including foodborne and waterborne illnesses, including hepatitis A.
Health Education
The web sites of the Office of AIDS, DCDC Immunization Branch, and DCDC STD Control Branch provide viral hepatitis-related health education materials. The DCDC STD Control Branch Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section page also provides health information resources.
Hepatitis C Counseling & Testing
The Office of AIDS supports local health departments and HIV prevention programs in providing HIV and hepatitis C testing, prevention and referral services. For information about these services see Office of AIDS HIV and HCV Testing Resources. The STD Control Branch also supports local health departments in providing hepatitis C surveillance, testing, and linkages to care. For information on where to get a hepatitis B or hepatitis C test near you, visit Get Tested.
Immunization
The DCDC Immunization Branch coordinates the California Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides vaccine at no cost to providers who serve eligible children from birth through 18 years of age.
The DCDC Immunization Branch also coordinates the California Vaccine for Adults (VFA) program.
Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention
The DCDC Immunization Branch Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program provides resources and technical support to local health departments for the surveillance and prevention of hepatitis B among people who are pregnant and infants born to people living with hepatitis B infection.
Perinatal Hepatitis C Prevention
The DCDC STD Control Branch provides resources and technical support to local health departments for the surveillance and monitoring of hepatitis C among infants born to people living with hepatitis C infection, including through the Perinatal Hepatitis C Public Health Investigation Protocol.
Partnerships
The DCDC STD Control Branch Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section monitors national, state, and local viral hepatitis policies and programs, and partners with local viral hepatitis campaigns and programs to facilitate collaboration, identify promising practices, and share lessons learned from other programs. The Section also provides in kind support to local hepatitis C testing programs.
Service Referrals
Viral hepatitis service referrals are also available at Get Tested.
Syringe Access
California law supports public health efforts to expand access to sterile syringes through both syringe services programs (SSPs) and nonprescription syringe sale in pharmacies. The Office of AIDS provides information and resources regarding Needle Exchange and Syringe Access, including through for local health departments, pharmacists, consumers, SSPs, health care providers, and law enforcement.
Surveillance
The DCDC Immunization Branch monitors cases of acute hepatitis B to identify missed opportunities for vaccination, provide post-exposure prophylaxis, identify possible healthcare-associated infections, estimate the disease burden in the population, and provide statistical reports on disease trends.
The DCDC STD Control Branch Hepatitis Epidemiology Unit also monitors cases of chronic hepatitis C and perinatal hepatitis C, maintains the chronic hepatitis C disease registry, develops data reports for the public, and develops guidelines for laboratories and providers on reporting viral hepatitis, including through the California Reportable Diseases Information Exchange (CalREDIE). Information for local health department on monitoring hepatitis C in CalREDIE is available on the STD CalREDIE Resources website and in the CalREDIE Document Repository.
Training
The DCDC STD Control Branch provides information to local health departments, health care providers, community-based organizations, and other partners regarding where to obtain training on viral hepatitis. The DCDC STD Control Branch Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section also promotes the Project Extended Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) initiatives at University of California San Francisco and University of Southern California to increase the capacity of primary care providers to treat chronic viral hepatitis infection in non-specialty care settings through free virtual training. A list of training resources is available on the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Training web page.
Treatment
The Office of AIDS AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) covers hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis C medication costs for people living with HIV/AIDS who are eligible for the program and maintains the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Assistance Program, which covers the costs of hepatitis C testing and treatment for eligible people who are enrolled in PrEP-AP.
The DCDC STD Control Branch Policy and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Section provides information and technical assistance to other state agencies serving people living with or at risk for viral hepatitis.