Question: If I’ve been vaccinated against hepatitis B, does that protect against hepatitis A?
Answer: No, not if you received only the hepatitis B vaccine. There is a combination vaccine for adults that prevents both hepatitis A and hepatitis B, according to the National Vaccine Program Office in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, it is less commonly administered than the separate vaccinations typically given in early childhood, according to the program’s website.
The websites for the Hawaii Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control also explain that the separate vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B are not interchangeable.
Hepatitis A, B and C all affect the liver and can cause similar symptoms, but the diseases are caused by three different viruses and have different modes of transmission, these health authorities state.
As noted, vaccines exist to prevent hepatitis A and B. There is not a vaccine for hepatitis C.
Hawaii health officials believe they are closing in on the source of a hepatitis A outbreak that has afflicted 135 people statewide, the worst outbreak in nearly two decades.
Ready for jury duty?
The Hawaii State Judiciary is preparing its annual mailing to potential jurors; questionnaires will go out starting Monday to about 235,000 people statewide, to build up the jury pool for 2017.
The addressees are drawn from a pool of people who hold Hawaii driver’s licenses or are registered to vote in the state. This year’s mailing will include about 85,000 people on Oahu, 55,000 in Maui County, 70,000 on the Big Island and 25,000 on Kauai, according to the Judiciary.
Anyone who receives a questionnaire has 10 days to complete it and return it to the Jury Pool Office. Those who fail to respond could be penalized.
Eligible jurors must be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old, live in Hawaii and are able to read and understand English.
Honolulu City Lights
Nonprofit groups have until Aug. 31 (a Wednesday) to enter the lottery to mount a display at the annual Honolulu City Lights celebration on the civic center grounds. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. that day to the city’s Department of Customer Services, which is in the Mission Memorial Building.
The mailing address is 550 S. King St., Honolulu 96813.
Permits for a total of five displays will be issued according to the results of a drawing to be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 15 in the Mission Memorial Building Hearings Room.
Applicants need not be present to win, but are welcome to attend, according to a news release from the city.
The annual lottery is necessary because there is not enough room to accommodate all the groups seeking a showcase during the popular holiday celebration, which draws tens of thousands of people to the civic grounds in December.
Each organization that wins a display site will be responsible for setting up, maintaining and removing its display.
Only nonprofit or charitable organizations are eligible, and proof of authorized status must be submitted with the application due at the end of this month.
You can download the permit application, instructions and rules for the displays at 808ne.ws/2ayWcUC, or call the Department of Customer Services at 768-3392.
Mahalo
Thank you to the person who turned in my car key when I lost it at Costco Waipio.
I somehow dropped it without noticing. I was very relieved when I went to the customer-service desk and someone had turned it in. — A reader
Mahalo
Many thanks to people who donated school supplies for needy students before classes started in public schools this year. There have been many different donation drives, so I won’t single out any particular one.
I do want to extend my gratitude to all the people who go out of their way to think of Hawaii’s children as their own. — A teacher
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
