Hepatitis A Vaccine

Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is usually spread through close, personal contact with an infected person or when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks that are contaminated by small amounts of stool (poop) from an infected person.

Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored bowel movements). Most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms.

A person infected with hepatitis A can transmit the disease to other people even if he or she does not have any symptoms of the disease.

Most people who get hepatitis A feel sick for several weeks, but they usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death; this is more common in people older than 50 years and in people with other liver diseases.

Hepatitis A vaccine has made this disease much less common in the United States.  However, outbreaks of hepatitis A among unvaccinated people still happen.

Children need 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine:

• First dose: 12 through 23 months of age
• Second dose: at least 6 months after the first dose

Infants 6 through 11 months old traveling outside the United States when protection against hepatitis A is recommended should receive 1 dose of hepatitis A vaccine. These children should still get 2 additional doses at the recommended ages for long-lasting protection.

Older children and adolescents 2 through 18 years of age who were not vaccinated previously should be vaccinated.

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

Hepatitis A vaccine is also recommended for the following people:

• International travelers
• Men who have sexual contact with other men
• People who use injection or non-injection drugs
• People who have occupational risk for infection
• People who anticipate close contact with an international adoptee
• People experiencing homelessness
• People with HIV
• People with chronic liver disease

In addition, a person who has not previously received hepatitis A vaccine and who has direct contact with someone with hepatitis A should get hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible and within 2 weeks after exposure.

Hepatitis A vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of hepatitis A vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone hepatitis A vaccination until a future visit.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be vaccinated if they are at risk for getting hepatitis A. Pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid hepatitis A vaccination. 

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

Your health care provider can give you more information.

• Soreness or redness where the shot is given, fever, headache, tiredness, or loss of appetite can happen after hepatitis A vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.