Vaccines provided for hepatitis A scare

NEW YORK, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Dozens of people have taken the New York Health Department up on its offer of free hepatitis A vaccines following a infection scare at a city nightclub.

A city health department spokesman said this week more than 90 people have taken the vaccines since an infected bartender at the New York hot spot Socialista was found to have not been taking recommended precautions while working, the New York Post reported Sunday.

Socialista was the site of actor Ashton Kutcher's 30th birthday party this month and now celebrities ranging from film star Bruce Willis to pop singer Madonna could be at risk for infection.

Other notable stars at the celebration included Kutcher's wife, actress Demi Moore, along with film starlets Lucy Liu and Salma Hayek.

The spokesman said the celebrities, along with other Socialista patrons, could have been infected as the bartender was handling drink-making materials with his bare hands.

The spokesman told the newspaper that fact, along with the lack of soap in the employee's work area, could mean his hepatitis A was spread through the drinks he prepared.