Prevention of hepatitis C

Learn how hepatitis C can be prevented.

On this page

• How can hepatitis C infections be prevented?
• For more information

How can hepatitis C be prevented?

There is no vaccine to protect against hepatitis C.

However, you can reduce your risk of getting or spreading hepatitis C by:

• avoiding sharing personal care items, such as:
  • razors
  • scissors
  • nail clippers
  • toothbrushes
• never sharing needles or other drug-use paraphernalia
• wearing latex gloves if you are likely to be in contact with someone else's blood
• avoiding dental, medical or cosmetic work done with unsterilized needles or equipment, such as:
  • piercing
  • tattooing
  • acupuncture

If you have hepatitis C, you can help prevent the spread of the disease by:

• not donating:
  • blood
  • tissue
  • semen
  • organs
• covering open sores or breaks in your skin
• making sure your drug use and/or sex partner(s) are tested for hepatitis C

Sexual activity

All sexual contact has some risk. You can reduce getting or spreading hepatitis C by practising safer sex. Safer sex, also known as safe sex, is more than just wearing the proper protection. It includes:

• getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• discussing STI prevention with your sex partner(s) 
• discussing with your partner(s) what sexual contact you will have
• using condoms and other barriers safely
• having fewer sex partners to reduce potential exposure to STIs

Pregnancy

It is possible for a mother to pass hepatitis C to her baby.

Talk to your health care provider about being tested for all types of hepatitis if you:

• are pregnant
• plan to get pregnant

Workplace

You can greatly reduce the risk of hepatitis C in the workplace by putting in place proper infection control practices.

For more information

• CATIE
  • Hepatitis C basics
  • Living with hepatitis C