Publisher’s Platform: If you visited a Taco Bell in Everett or Lake Stevens on May 22 or 23 you have less than 2 weeks to get a Hepatitis A vaccine

Too bad the Taco Bell worker was not already vaccinated.

The Snohomish County Health Department has identified a case of hepatitis A that occurred in a food worker who worked at two Taco Bell locations: 2727 Broadway in Everett and 303 91st Ave NE in Lake Stevens.

Anyone who ate food from the Everett location on May 22 or 23 or from the Lake Stevens location on May 23 should take the following actions:

• Check if you are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A. People who are vaccinated or immune do not need to take any further action as they would be considered protected against this exposure. People can check their vaccination records by contacting their healthcare provider, using the Washington Immunization Information System at https://wa.myir.net or, if available, referring to their copy of their immunization record. People who have previously been infected with hepatitis A also may be immune. If they are not sure, they should check with their healthcare provider. 

Hepatitis A vaccine should be administered as soon as possible, within 2 weeks of exposure, to all unvaccinated people aged12 months or olderepatitia a who have recently been exposed to hepatitis A virus (HAV).

It is surprising the the Hepatitis A vaccines are not being offered to all exposed patrons by the Snohomish Department of Health.

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