Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Offers Free Hepatitis A Vaccines to Food Handlers who Live or Work in Culpeper, Orange, or Madison Counties 

January 10, 2023

Media Contact: April Achter, April.Achter@vdh.virginia.gov, (540) 316-6280

Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Offers Free Hepatitis A Vaccines to Food Handlers who Live or Work in Culpeper, Orange, or Madison Counties
Friday, January 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

(Culpeper, Virginia)  — The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) will be holding a free Hepatitis A vaccination clinic for food handlers who live or work in Culpeper, Orange, or Madison counties. All ages are welcome to attend this clinic, but those under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Funding for this clinic is provided by Culpeper Wellness Foundation.

RRHD encourages all food handlers to help keep themselves and our communities safe by getting a Hepatitis A vaccine!

The clinic is scheduled Friday, January 27 at the S.E.E. Recovery Center, 710 U.S. Ave. in Culpeper from 5:30-7:30 p.m. No pre-registration is required. The first 100 people to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine during this clinic will receive a $10 gas card.

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by a virus that is easily spread from person-to-person. One in four people with Hepatitis A do not have symptoms when they are contagious. It can cause serious illness lasting many months. In some cases, people die because of Hepatitis A.

Food workers should receive the Hepatitis A vaccine not only to protect themselves from the virus, but to protect their customers. Those who handle food in a public setting can spread Hepatitis A without knowing it if food is prepared while a person is infected. Hepatitis A is the only vaccine preventable foodborne illness.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A infection include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Dark urine, pale stools (poop), and diarrhea

For more information about Hepatitis A, visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm.