Uses
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is spread from person to person through contact with the feces (stool) of people who are infected, which can easily happen if someone does not wash his or her hands properly. You can also get hepatitis A from food, water, or objects contaminated with HAV. Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can include the following:
- fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and/or joint pain
- severe stomach pains and diarrhea (mainly in children)
- jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements)
These symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months. If you have hepatitis A you may be too ill to work.
Children often do not have symptoms, but most adults do. You can spread HAV without having symptoms.
Hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death, although this is rare and occurs more commonly in persons 50 years of age or older and persons with other liver diseases, such as hepatitis B or C.
Hepatitis A vaccines were recommended in the United States beginning in 1996. Since then, the number of cases reported each year in the United States has dropped from around 31,000 cases to fewer than 1,500 cases.
Side Effects Of Hepatitis A Vaccine
- With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible.
- Most people who get hepatitis A vaccine do not have any problems with it.
- soreness or redness where the shot was given
- low-grade fever
- headache
- tiredness
- If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 or 2 days.
- Your doctor can tell you more about these reactions.
- People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
- Some people get shoulder pain, which can be more severe and longer-lasting than the more routine soreness that can follow injections. This happens very rarely.
Warnings & Precautions
Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine:
If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies. If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of hepatitis A vaccine, or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated. Ask your healthcare provider if you want information about vaccine components.
If you are not feeling well. If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you.
Dosage Of Hepatitis A Vaccine
Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated (killed) vaccine. You will need 2 doses for long-lasting protection. These doses should be given at least 6 months apart.
Children are routinely vaccinated between their first and second birthdays (12 through 23 months of age). Older children and adolescents can get the vaccine after 23 months. Adults who have not been vaccinated previously and want to be protected against hepatitis A can also get the vaccine.
You should get the hepatitis A vaccine in the following circumstances:
- You are traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common.
- You are a man who has sex with other men.
- You use illegal drugs.
- You have a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
- You are being treated with clotting factor concentrates.
- You work with hepatitis A–infected animals or in a hepatitis A research laboratory.
- You expect to have close personal contact with an international adoptee from a country where hepatitis A is common.
Ask your healthcare provider if you want more information about any of these groups.
There are no known risks to getting hepatitis A vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.
Other
Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
Call your local or state health department.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
