Hepatitis Vaccination for Prisoners

Prisoners in Iran are vaccinated against hepatitis, according to the head of Iran’s Hepatitis Society.

Dr. Seyyed Moayed Alavian said about 40% of the inmates with a history of drug addiction suffer from hepatitis. According to the latest figures, there are more than 220,000 inmates in Iranian jails. Based on recent statistics, 186,000 people are infected with hepatitis C in Iran, most of whom are serving time in prisons. Alavian said inmates are routinely checked for hepatitis infection and those suffering from the disease are prescribed antiretroviral medication.

“However, ensuring that prisoners take their meds is difficult,” he said. “To make matters worse, some are released before their treatment course is complete.”