Does anyone know if having hep B would disqualify an applicant from serving in the Peace Corps? Someone I know is being treated with anti-virals and would like to serve in Africa. I know hep B is prevalent in Africa.
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Hi @elderberryblu,
I did take a quick look at this and their screening is wide. One has to do physical, labs, mental health, immunization and other tests. I won’t be surprised if HBV is one of those vaccinations. I did not see a list for this though. It is hard to tell whether having HBV will disqualify this person. Thanks, Bansah1
Dear @elderberryblu,
I don’t see anything specific about hepatitis B in the peace corps website, but do see this in their FAQs (https://www.peacecorps.gov/how-to-apply/application-and-invitation/medical-clearance/):
If I have a pre-existing condition, can I still apply?
Please do not be discouraged from applying for service if you take medication for, or have, a pre-existing medical condition. Many Volunteers have successfully served while taking routine medications or managing pre-existing health conditions
and
Can I appeal the medical clearance decision?
If you are not medically cleared, you have the right to appeal the decision by requesting an additional review and clearance determination from the Pre-Service Review Board, which is made up of providers clinicians who were not involved in your original clearance determination.
also from here (https://www.peacecorps.gov/faqs/medical-health/):
I have a specific medical condition. Will it impact my ability to serve or where I am placed?
It may. Peace Corps Volunteers serve around the world in a wide variety of environments where medical resources and the ability to access medical services can vary significantly from those in the U.S. The medical history of each applicant is individually assessed to determine the ability of the Peace Corps to safely meet the medical needs of that applicant in their country of invitation.
If you apply, you must fully disclose your medical history so that the Peace Corps can consider your health needs.
In all, I guess it’s worth a try, but it looks like it depends on a case-by-case basis.
One alternative could be the US public health corps, which explicitly has rules in place to allow people with hepatitis B to serve (Hepatitis B and the U.S. Public Health Corps » Hepatitis B Foundation).
Hope this helps,
Thomas
This is a great question. The Peace Corps is an independent agency that is funded by the US government. They do have to follow US anti-discrimination policy. They have a statement about this, which states that they prohibit discrimination based upon disability - and hepatitis B is considered a covered disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/about-the-agency/diversity-and-inclusion/equal-employment-opportunity/
Through their medical clearance form, you will likely need to disclose your hepatitis B. And the HBF can help walk you through that process - it is best to do it alongside information and education, and provide them with the CDC guidelines. It might be a good idea to call their office first anonymously and ask how they handle applicants with hepatitis B. If you want to talk more, feel free to email me directly at chari.cohen@hepb.org. Thanks!!
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