Thumbnail image for hepatitisa.jpgAfter the news came out on September 14, 2011, that anyone who ate at Cheddar’s Casual Café, located on 4009 S. Loop 289 in Lubbock, Texas anytime from August 31 through September 8 may have been exposed to Hepatitis A through a restaurant employee, the City of Lubbock Texas has announced that it will host an immunization clinic to offer free Hepatitis A vaccines at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, starting Friday, September 16th through Monday, September 19th.  Clinics will be offered at the following times:

Friday, September 16 Noon – 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 17 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday, September 18 Noon – 6 p.m.

Monday, September 19 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

All clinics will take place at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Lane. Immunizations on Friday will take place in rooms 104, 105, 106, and 107. Clinics on the other days will take place in the banquet hall.

People infected by hepatitis A can prevent symptoms if they are vaccinated, or receive injections of immune globulin, within 14 days of exposure. Immune globulin, which is made from the plasma of donor blood, contains antibodies that act as a prophylactic against the onset of illness. 

Hepatitis A (HAV) is one of five human hepatitis viruses that primarily infect the liver and cause illness. Symptoms generally begin approximately 28 days after contracting HAV, but can begin as early as 15 days or as late as 50 days after exposure. The symptoms include headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, fever, and malaise. After a few days, jaundice sets in. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes that occurs because bile flows poorly through the liver and backs up into the blood. The urine may also turn dark with bile and the stool light or clay-colored from lack of bile.