A cross-sectional analysis of acute hepatitis B virus reported to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority from 2000 to 2003.

Background: Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission remains a significant public health problem despite effective vaccination and prophylaxis strategies. Vancouver, British Columbia, has a large ethnic community from endemic areas, which may further impact on the epidemiology of acute HBV. A cross-sectional study of factors associated with acute HBV cases reported to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (Vancouver, British Columbia) from 2000 to 2003 is reported.

Immunization programs in non-traditional settings.

Background: The Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver is an inner-city neighbourhood of 10 square blocks where poverty, crowded housing, homelessness, poor nutrition and hygiene, chronic illness, and substance abuse put residents at risk for communicable diseases. The objective of the program was to minimize the burden of illness from vaccine-preventable diseases in this vulnerable population. This article describes the process and lessons learned to enable others to implement similar programs.