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Prevention of Viral Hepatitis and HIV in Drug Users - A Hepatitis B Model for HIV and an HB Vaccine Model for HIV Vaccine Trials in Drug Users (DASH)

The goal of the proposed study is to use the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine as a model for a future Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) vaccine trial, examining the efficacy of community-based outreach intervention as well as an accelerated vaccine schedule as a method for increasing acceptance/adherence with HBV vaccination protocols among not-in-treatment drug users. This study also examined the effect of HBV vaccination coupled with community-based outreach intervention on reducing the incidence of HIV, HBV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections and the frequency of needle use and sexual risk behaviors related to these viral transmissions. A secondary purpose is to assess the antibody response after HBV vaccination as a measurement of immunological response in drug users.