Hepatitis A

According to the CDC, why should you get vaccinated?

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.

Symptoms of hepatitis A can include:

• fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and/or joint pain

• severe stomach pains and diarrhea (mainly in children), or

• 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 vaccine can prevent hepatitis A. Hepatitis A vaccines were recommended in the United States beginning in 1996. Since then, the number of cases reported each year in the U.S. has dropped from around 31,000 cases to fewer than 1,500 cases.[1]

Who should get the 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.1

How does getting the vaccine work?

2-dose series HepA (Havrix 6–12 months apart or Vaqta 6–18 months apart [minimum interval: 6 months]) or 3-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months [minimum intervals: 4 weeks between doses 1 and 2, 5 months between doses 2 and 3])[2]

Hepatitis A vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.1

[1] Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) <https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.html> [accessed Jan 20 2020]

[2]  Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule <hhttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html> [accessed Jan 20 2020]