San Francisco Hep B Free
First city in the U.S. to test and vaccinate all Asian and Pacific Islander Adults for hepatitis B
B Sure, B Tested, B Free!
San Francisco Hep B Free is a citywide campaign to turn San Francisco into the first hepatitis B free city in the nation. This unprecedented campaign will provide free and low-cost hepatitis B testing and vaccinations to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) adults at locations throughout San Francisco. The three objectives of the SF Hep B Free campaign are:
- To create public and healthcare provider awareness about the importance of testing & vaccinating APIs for hepatitis B.
- To promote routine hepatitis B testing and vaccination within the primary care medical community.
- To ensure access to treatment for chronically infected individuals.
API's have the highest risk of hepatitis B of any ethnic group. San Francisco's API residents comprise 34% of the city's population and bear a disproportionate burden of liver cancer and undetected HBV infection. The city of San Francisco has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation.
The SF Hep B Free campaign puts San Francisco at the forefront of the nation in fighting chronic hepatitis B. It is the largest, most intensive healthcare campaign for Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. This initiative has received national attention and is being looked to as a model by the California legislature. Mayor Gavin Newsom and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma are leading the effort with more than 50 healthcare and Asian Pacific Islander (API) organizations. The SF Board of Supervisors and SF Health Commission have passed unanimous resolutions supporting SF Hep B Free.
The SF Hep B Free Steering Committee is made up of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, and AsianWeek Foundation. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma serves as Honorary Chairperson.
The SF Hep B Free campaign, launched in April 2007, vows to make San Francisco “The first city to test and vaccinate all Asian and Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B.” This ambitious, two-year, city-wide project aims to meet its goal by providing free screenings and low-cost vaccination opportunities at conveniently located partnering health facilities. SF Hep B Free has already received national attention and is currently regarded by the California state legislature as a model for other states. Among the many people behind this campaign are San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, as well as; the steering committee consisting of: Ted Fang of AsianWeek Foundation, Janet Zola of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Dr. Samuel So. With over 50 healthcare-related organizations and Asian/Pacific Islander community-based organizations partnered in this endeavor, we hope that SF Hep B Free will spearhead the movement against hepatitis B and liver cancer and motivate other metropolitan areas in the US to initiate similar campaigns.
Hepatitis B is the silent Asian epidemic. Join us in the fight to make San Francisco Hep B Free.
For more information on the SF Hep B Free Campaign, click here.
For more information on screening and vaccination sites in San Francisco, click here.
San Mateo Hep B Free
In 2009, San Mateo County in California began currently working to replicate the successful SF Hep B Free Campaign in San Francisco, California. San Mateo County, the ALC and partners are currently working on their own San Mateo "Hep B Free" Campaign.
For more information on SM Hep B Free, click here.
Santa Clara County Hep B Free Screenings and Vaccinations
The Asian Liver Center has partnered with Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to bring an exciting screening and vaccination program to the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Santa Clara County, a California county in the San Francisco Bay Area home to the Silicon Valley and San Jose.
For more information on Santa Clara County Hep B Free Screenings and Vaccinations, click here.
Last Updated: July 24, 2009
