The Camden County Health Department in New Jersey has offered free hepatitis A vaccine shots to thousands who might have got exposed to the condition, on Friday and Saturday, if they had visited a Starbucks in the county, in the past 14 days. A Starbucks employee tested positive for the condition and continued to work, while being infected.
On Wednesday, a health provider told the Camden County Department of Health that there was an incident in Gloucester township in the county. The Starbucks facility was immediately shut down. An investigation found that that there was no evidence of compromise of food safety protocols.
According to the website nj, on Thursday, in a press release, Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako said that the department was collaborating with the beverage chain and the employee to handle the situation.
Customers who visited the Starbucks located at 1490 Blackwood Clementon Road in Gloucester Township were urged to take a shot. In a cautionary measure, customers who visited the Starbucks on November 4,5,6, 11, 12 or 13 were asked to get a vaccine, as per the Camden County statement.
A vaccine clinic was set up for customers to get a hepatitis A vaccine from Friday. The Department of Health also said that individuals should get the vaccine as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after contact.
Officer Nwako also said that their highest priority was to ensure that everyone who was involved would remain safe and healthy. The statement also said that the patient was not working and close contacts had been identified. The department also encouraged anyone who might believe that they had been exposed to get vaccinated against hepatitis A. They urged these individuals to call the county health department or to contact their primary health care physician.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Hepatitis A generally causes a mild infection that lasts for a few weeks. In severe cases it lasts for a few months and the virus rarely kills a person.
