The Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent a severe liver disease, Hepatitis A. To know more about the disease, its manifestations, and complications, click here, please.

Who needs the Hepatitis A vaccine?

• All children and adolescents who have not received the vaccine, and who are older than one year of age, and have not suffered from Hepatitis A earlier.
• Adults who have not been immunized, and who have not suffered from Hepatitis A earlier.

When should children receive their vaccine?

Ideally, anytime after 12 months of age but before the completion of two years of age. However, if the individual is older than two years, then the earlier the vaccination schedule starts, the better.

How many doses of the vaccine will my child need?

To get long-lasting protection, s/he will need two doses that are at least 6 months apart. Remember, the protection starts only about a month after the immunization. So it is essential to continue with general hygienic measures. Also, please remember that even after vaccination for many illnesses, you can develop other common diseases that do not have any vaccines as yet. Therefore, one cannot forget basic sanitary measures to prevent diseases.

Immunity is life-long, and no booster dose is recommended.

Can I combine Hepatitis A with other vaccines?

Yes. Combination vaccines including Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are available in both adult and pediatric formulations.

Delay or avoid taking the Hepatitis A vaccine if:

1. You have had a severe allergic response to a previous dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine
2. You have had a severe allergic response to any component of the vaccine. All Hep A vaccines contain alum, and some may contain 2-phenoxyethanol
3. If you have a moderate or severe illness at the time of vaccination. Mild illnesses are not a contraindication. Let your doctor decide.
4. In adult women, if you are pregnant (There is no evidence to show that it is harmful to either the mother or the baby, but unless studies conclusively prove this, it might be better to wait).

Are there any side-effects with this vaccine?

Like all things in life, there are effects and side-effects. Most of the side-effects are minor lasting for just a day or two and include:

• Soreness at the injection site(1 of 2 adults and 1 of 6 children).
• Headache (1 in 6 adults and about 1 in 25 children).
• Loss of appetite (1 in 12 children).
• Tiredness (1 in 14 adults).

Very rarely, serious allergic reactions can occur within a few minutes to a few hours of the vaccination. Report SOS to the hospital if:

• You develop high fever or behavioral changes
• Difficulty in breathing
• Hoarseness of the voice
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Fast heartbeat
• Dizziness

Can this vaccine be given to foreigners visiting India after they have reached India?

While it is ideal to give this about a month before visiting an endemic area, the vaccination is still very effective in protecting against the disease even after exposure to the virus in people who are 1-40 years of age.

People who should receive antibodies themselves if they are traveling to countries like India where the disease is endemic:

• Older adults > 40 years of age and who are traveling in less than two weeks.
• Immunocompromised persons due to any reason.
• Young children < 12 months of age.
• People who have known allergy to the hepatitis A vaccine.