Editing Hepatitis C (section)

== Prevention ==
{{See also|Hepatitis C vaccine}}
As of 2022, no approved [[vaccine]] protects against contracting {{nowrap|hepatitis C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2021-06-14 |title=Hepatitis C {{!}} CDC |url=https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |language=en-us}}</ref> A combination of [[harm reduction]] strategies, such as the [[needle exchange programs|provision of new needles and syringes]] and treatment of [[substance abuse|substance use]], decreases the risk of {{nowrap|hepatitis C}} in people using injection drugs by about 75%.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hagan H, Pouget ER, Des Jarlais DC | title = A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to prevent hepatitis C virus infection in people who inject drugs | journal = The Journal of Infectious Diseases | volume = 204 | issue = 1 | pages = 74–83 | date = July 2011 | pmid = 21628661 | pmc = 3105033 | doi = 10.1093/infdis/jir196 }}</ref> The screening of blood donors is important at a national level, as is adhering to [[universal precautions]] within healthcare facilities.<ref name=ID2010 /> In countries where there is an insufficient supply of sterile [[syringes]], medications should be given orally rather than via injection (when possible).<ref name=World2007 /> Recent research also suggests that treating people with active infection, thereby reducing the potential for transmission, may be an effective preventive measure.<ref name="TA" />

Hepatitis C vaccine phase 1 clinical trials are set to begin in the summer of 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.contagionlive.com/view/biden-administration-others-working-towards-eliminating-hepatitis-c|title=Biden Administration, Others Working Towards Eliminating Hepatitis C|date=13 March 2023 }}</ref>