• About the Disease

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. The spread of HAV is usually by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water-containing HAV. Hepatitis A can cause a wide variety of symptoms ranging from mild "flu-like" illness to more serious problems, such as yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), severe stomach pains, and diarrhea, that may require hospital admission. A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others within the same household. In some cases, hepatitis A causes death.

• Benefits of the vaccine

Vaccination is the best way to protect against hepatitis A. People who get hepatitis A vaccine have protection for years against infection with HAV. The vaccine is made from a killed virus and is given as a shot in the muscle of the upper arm (deltoid). Before hepatitis A vaccine was available, only short-term protection could be achieved by giving immune globulin (also called "gamma globulin" or IG).

• Hepatitis A vaccine schedule

The dose and vaccination schedule vary according to age:

• For adult >18 years of age two doses; 6-12 months apart
• For children and adolescents 2-18 years of age three doses; second dose one month from the first; third dose, 5-11 months from the second. (See 1^st Year Schedule for more information)

• Other vaccines may be given at the same time as hepatitis A vaccine

• Who should get hepatitis A vaccine?

• Persons 2 years of age and older traveling or working in countries with high rates of hepatitis A, such as those located in Central or South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, and southern or eastern Europe
• Persons who live in communities with high rates of hepatitis A; some examples include American Indian, Alaska Native and Pacific Islander communities and selected religious communities
• Men who have sex with men
• Persons who use street drugs
• Persons with chronic liver disease

• What are the risks from hepatitis A vaccine?

Hepatitis A vaccine is very safe. As with any medicine, there exists a very small risks that serious problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine. Most people who get hepatitis A vaccines do not experience problems from it.

• Below is a list of problems that may occur after getting the vaccine.

• Soreness or swelling where shot was given
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite

• Serious allergic reaction

• What to do if there is a serious reaction:
  
  
• Call your CMP office or get to the office right away
• Write down what happened and the date and time it happened and give this information to the doctor
• Ask your CMP Provider or the health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Even Report (VAERS) form, or you can call (800)822-7967 (toll free)

Hepatitis A vaccine has not been evaluated in pregnancy. However, any risk for the fetus or for pregnant women is expected to be very low.

If you want to learn more, ask your CMP Provider. He orshe can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

**Information courtesy of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.