There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.
For some hepatitis C clients, drug treatment may be appropriate and must be administered after careful assessment by a physician. The best treatment strategy may be to use a combination of two antiviral drugs: pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. On the basis of recent studies, the pegylated interferons are expected to cure about 55-60% of treated patients. Pegylated interferons are a new, slow release, longer-lasting form of traditional alpha interferons. New drugs are being developed. No herbal remedies have been shown to be useful.
Interferons are antiviral proteins produced as part of the body's first line of defence against viruses and bacteria. Giving additional synthetic interferon helps boost the body's immune response against the virus and infected cells. Interferon Alfa-2B is the most widely used interferon to treat hepatitis C in Canada. It is given by subcutaneous injection; most patients can do it safely themselves.