hepatitis A vaccine

What is the most important information I should know about hepatitis A vaccine?

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting hepatitis A vaccine.

What is hepatitis A vaccine?

Hepatitis A is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. HAV can be spread through close personal contact, by drinking contaminated water or by eating contaminated food. HAV can also be spread by having unprotected sex with an infected person, by sharing needles when injecting drugs or by being stuck with a used needle on the job. Hepatitis A vaccine exposes the individual to a small amount of the virus (or to a protein from the virus) and causes the body to develop immunity to the disease.

Hepatitis A infection can cause a "flu-like" illness that leads to loss of appetite; diarrhea and vomiting; tiredness; jaundice (yellow skin or eyes); or pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.

Vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for persons 2 years of age and older traveling or working in areas with high rates of hepatitis A infection. These areas include Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, southern or eastern Europe, and others. Primary immunization should be completed at least 2 weeks prior to expected exposure to HAV.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving hepatitis A vaccine?

Before receiving a hepatitis A vaccine, tell your healthcare provider if you have had an allergic reaction to vaccines, other medicines, preservatives, foods, or dyes.

Before receiving hepatitis A vaccine, talk to your doctor if you:

• have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;
• are taking a medication that affects the immune system (e.g. steroids, anti-rejection medications);
• have a bleeding disorder, blood disease, or heart problems
• have cancer; or
• are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays, radiation, or medication.

Ask your healthcare provider for more information. Hepatitis A vaccine may not be recommended in some cases.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting hepatitis A vaccine.

Talk to your doctor before receiving hepatitis A vaccine if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast-feeding a baby.

How is hepatitis A vaccine administered?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the hepatitis A vaccine as an injection.

Your doctor may recommend reducing fever and pain by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if a dose of hepatitis A vaccine is missed or if you get behind schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of hepatitis A vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after getting hepatitis A vaccine?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving hepatitis A vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of hepatitis A vaccine?

Getting hepatitis A disease is much riskier than getting hepatitis A vaccine. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of hepatitis A vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from hepatitis A vaccine are experienced:

• a serious allergic reaction including swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; hives; paleness; weakness; dizziness; or a fast heart beat within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot;
• high fever; or
• behavior changes.

Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your doctor if you experience:

• mild to moderate fever;
• loss of appetite;
• fatigue;
• headache; or
• soreness where the shot was given, lasting a day or two.

Your doctor may recommend reducing fever and pain by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications..

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect hepatitis A vaccine?

Talk to your doctor before receiving hepatitis A vaccine if you are taking any of the following medications that may affect the immune system:

• an oral or injectable steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);
• an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);
• treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication), radiation, or x-rays;
• azathioprine (Imuran);
• basiliximab (Simulect);
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
• etanercept (Enbrel);
• leflunomide (Arava);
• muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
• mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
• sirolimus (Rapamune); or
• tacrolimus (Prograf).

Other drugs may affect the immune system, tell your doctor about any medications you are taking prior to receiving hepatitis A vaccine.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist may have additional information or suggest additional resources regarding hepatitis A vaccine.