U.S. European Command Provides Hepatitis A Vaccines for Bathore Children (July 23, 2007)

The United States European Command, through the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), donated 500 doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine to the local health clinic for children living in the Bathore area. The vaccine donation is part of ODC’s Humanitarian Assistance program.

Children of all ages received the inoculation today from medically trained members of the 352d Special Operations Group of the U.S. Air Force, currently involved in joint exercise training with Albanian Armed Forces. The vaccine provides protection from Hepatitis A, a viral disease that is often transmitted by contaminated food or water.

The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) manages the U.S. Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Assistance program, providing direct humanitarian assistance to the Albanian people. This program has been active in Albania since 1996, providing supplies and medical facilities, rebuilding schools, developing water projects and other non-military projects.