HEPATITIS A VACCINE - HEPATITIS A VACCINATION - HEPATITIS A IMMUNIZATION - VACCINE FOR HEPATITIS A - ADULT VACCINE

What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The infection is most often spread by the fecal-oral route. It can also be spread by close person-to-person contact such as household or sexual contact with an infected person. The virus is also spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Hepatitis A is the most common vaccine-preventable disease acquired during travel.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?
The effects of HAV infection differ from person to person. Following HAV infection, some individuals may lack symptoms but still pose a transmission risk to others. Generally, older people have more severe symptoms than children. Symptoms may include yellow skin or eyes, tiredness, stomachache, fatigue, loss of appetite or nausea.

If symptoms occur, they usually appear anywhere from two to six weeks after exposure and typically develop over a period of several days. Symptoms typically last less than two months, although some people can be ill for as long as six months. HAV can sometimes 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.

Which adults should get vaccinated?

• Travelers visiting countries where HAV is common. This includes all countries except the U.S., Canada, western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
• People with chronic liver disease
• People who have blood clotting-factor disorders, such as hemophilia
• Men who have sex with men
• Users of injection and non-injection illegal drugs
• People working with HAV in a research laboratory

The hepatitis A vaccine is 94-100 percent effective in preventing hepatitis A. Protection begins approximately two to four weeks after the first injection. A second injection results in long-term protection.

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Hepatitis A Information