Some popular gay bars in Detroit, Ferndale and Pontiac will have on-site hepatitis A vaccination clinics this month.
It's the state's latest effort to slow the hep A outbreak in Southeast Michigan.
About 14% of the 727 cases identified so far are men who have sex with men -- hence the clinics.
Many hep A cases are also occurring among drug users, jail inmates, restaurant workers, people with no permanent home, and people who live with an infected person. 590 people have been hospitalized, and 24 people have died from infections from the virus.
Lynn Sutfin is with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
"We've been running about 15 to 20 (new) cases a week, " says Sutfin, "so this outbreak is not showing any signs of slowing down or stopping at this point in time."
Hepatitis A vaccine will be available to patrons 19 years and older at the following venue-based clinics:
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7 – 10 p.m. – Liberty Bar, 85 North Saginaw St., Pontiac
Sunday, Feb. 11, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. – Adam’s Apple, 18931 West Warren, Detroit
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 7 – 11 p.m. – Menjo’s, 928 West McNichols Road, Detroit
Saturday, Feb. 24, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. – Hayloft, 8070 Greenfield, Detroit
Monday, Feb. 26, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. – GiGis, 16920 West Warren, Detroit
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 8 – 11 p.m. – Soho, 205 West 9 Mile Road, Ferndale
In addition to the newly announced on site clinics at gay bars, the state is also visiting shelters to offer vaccinations, and airing public education ads on radio.
The Department of Corrections is offering vaccinations to inmates, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture is urging restaurant workers to get vaccinated.
