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HEP A

Children need 2 doses of hepatitis A:

  • Dose 1: 12-23 months of age
  • Dose 2: at least 6 months after the first dose

Adults who were not vaccinated previously and want to be protected against hepatitis A can also get the vaccine.

Jonas Salk

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is very contagious and can cause long-lasting illness thus emphasizing the importance of vaccination.

Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that is spread through close contact with an infected person or when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from food, objects, or drinks that are contaminated by small amounts of stool from an infected person. Since hepatitis A was first recommended in 1996, cases of hepatitis A have declined dramatically.

WHO IS AT RISK?

While hepatitis A can affect anyone, specific groups in the United States face a greater risk of infection and are more likely to experience severe consequences if they do contract the disease.

People at risk include:

  • International travelers
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People who use or inject drugs (all those who use illegal drugs)
  • People with occupational risk for exposure
  • People who anticipate close personal contact with an international adoptee
  • People experiencing homelessness

People who are at increased risk for severe Hepatitis A infection:

  • People with chronic liver disease
  • People with HIV

HOW IS HEPATITIS A SPREAD?

The primary mode of transmission for the hepatitis A virus is through the fecal-oral route, meaning that an uninfected person can contract the virus by consuming food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected individual. Within families, transmission can occur through contaminated hands when an infected person handles food for other family members. Waterborne outbreaks, while uncommon, typically result from water sources contaminated by sewage or insufficiently treated water. Casual contact among people does not usually lead to the spread of the virus.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Some people with Hepatitis A do not have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include the following:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dark urine
  • Clay-colored bowel movements
  • Joint pain
  • Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes)

WHEN IS THE VACCINE GIVEN?

The usual practice for administering the hepatitis A vaccine involves two doses, and the recommended schedule may differ based on the particular vaccine used and the age of the recipient.

In children, the initial dose of the hepatitis A vaccine is commonly given between 12 and 23 months of age, followed by the second dose administered six to 18 months after the first dose.

For older children and adults who haven’t received the vaccine before, a two-dose series of the hepatitis A vaccine can be given, with an interval of six to 18 months between the doses.

HISTORY OF HEPATITIS A

  • 1700-1800: Outbreaks of jaundice, suspected to be hepatitis A, were reported in association with military campaigns
  • 1940: Differentiated epidemiologically from hepatitis B
  • 1970: Identification of the virus and development of serologic tests helped differentiate hepatitis A from other types of hepatitis
  • 1995: Vaccines were first licensed for use in the United States
  • 2004: Hepatitis A was the most frequently reported type of hepatitis in the United States