VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Hepatitis A Vaccine:
What You Need to Know1

Why get vaccinated?

Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is usually
spread through close personal contact with aninfected person or when a person unknowingly
ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks thatare 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 lessthan 6 years of age do not have symptoms.
A person infected with hepatitis A can transmit thedisease to other people even if he or she does nothave 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 morecommon in people older than 50 and in people withother liver diseases.
Hepatitis A vaccine has made this disease much lesscommon in the United States. However, outbreaks ofhepatitis A among unvaccinated people still happen.

2Hepatitis A vaccine

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

Many Vaccine Information Statements areavailable in Spanish and other languages.
See www.immunize.org/vis
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están
disponibles en español y en muchos otros
idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

Adults who were not vaccinated previously andwant to be protected against hepatitis A can also
get the vaccine.
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for thefollowing people:
All children aged 12–23 months
Unvaccinated children and adolescents aged
2–18 years
International travelers
Men who have sex with men
People who use injection or non-injection drugs
People who have occupational risk for infection
People who anticipate close contact with aninternational adoptee
People experiencing homelessness
People with HIV
People with chronic liver disease
Any person wishing to obtain immunity(protection)
In addition, a person who has not previously
received hepatitis A vaccine and who has directcontact with someone with hepatitis A should get
hepatitis A vaccine within 2 weeks after exposure.
Hepatitis A vaccine may be given at the same time asother vaccines.

with your health3	Talk
care provider
Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting thevaccine:Has had an allergic reaction after a previous doseof hepatitis A vaccine, or has any severe, lifethreatening allergies.
In some cases, your health care provider may decideto postpone hepatitis A vaccination to a future visit.
U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may bevaccinated. 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 moreinformation.

4Risks of a vaccine reaction

Soreness or redness where the shot is given, fever,headache, tiredness, or loss of appetite can happen
after hepatitis A vaccine.
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 chanceof a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, otherserious injury, or death.

National Vaccine Injury
6	TheCompensation Program
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program(VICP) is a federal program that was created tocompensate people who may have been injured
by certain vaccines. Visit the VICP website atwww.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or call
1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program andabout filing a claim. There is a time limit to file aclaim for compensation.

7

How can I learn more?

Ask your health care provider.
Call your local or state health department.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC):--Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or--Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines

if there is a serious
5	Whatproblem?
An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinatedperson leaves the clinic. If you see signs of asevere allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face
and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat,dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person
to the nearest hospital.
For other signs that concern you, call your healthcare provider.
Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your
health care provider will usually file this report, oryou can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website atwww.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS
is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff do notgive medical advice.

Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

Hepatitis A Vaccine
07/28/2020|42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

Office use only