Dynavax and Times Pharmacy Announce Partnership to Offer HEPLISAV-B Hepatitis B Vaccine to Customers Throughout Oahu, with a Focus on People with Diabetes - Seite 2

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). In the U.S., it is estimated that 15 to 25 percent of patients with chronic hepatitis B develop chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.ⁱⁱⁱ People living with diabetes are at increased risk for hepatitis B since the hepatitis B virus can be spread through everyday disease management activities such as sharing blood glucose meters, fingerstick devices or other diabetes-care equipment including syringes or insulin pens.^iv The CDC recommends HBV vaccination for all adults with diabetes who are younger than 60 years old.^v

“Community pharmacists see their patients regularly and, as such, they play such a critical role when it comes to vaccinating patients in their neighborhood,” said Donn Casale, Vice President, Commercial of Dynavax. “We are pleased Times Pharmacy recognized that HEPLISAV-B can provide the fastest and highest rates of protection for their customers at risk.”

Vaccination with HEPLISAV-B will be available at four Times Pharmacy locations including Times Koolau, Times Waimalu, Times Kunia, and Times Kamehameha Shopping Center locations during normal business hours and no appointments are necessary. Private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid are required to cover preventative HBV testing and vaccines, usually without a deductible or co-pay. Payer coverage for HEPLISAV-B has been established for 100% of Medicare lives, more than 95% of Commercial lives, and 90% of Medicaid fee-for-service lives. Times Pharmacy is practicing COVID 19 safety measures.

Please see Important Safety Information below. 

For more information about HEPLISAV-B, visit http://heplisavb.com/.

About Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral disease of the liver that can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. The hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV,^vi and transmission is on the rise. There is no cure for hepatitis B, but effective vaccination can prevent the disease.

In adults, hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood and through unprotected sex with an infected person. The CDC recommends vaccination for those at high risk for infection due to their jobs, lifestyle, living situations and travel to certain areas.^vii Because people with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to infection, the CDC recommends vaccination for adults age 19 to 59 with diabetes as soon as possible after their diagnosis, and for people age 60 and older with diabetes at their physician's discretion.^viii Approximately 20 million U.S. adults have diabetes, and 1.5 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year.^ix