U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Hepatitis A Vaccine:

What You Need to Know

Many vaccine information statements are 

available 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

1. 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 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.

2. Hepatitis 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

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.
OFFICE 

USE 

ONLY

3. Talk with your health 

care provider

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, lifethreatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may 

decide to postpone hepatitis A vaccination until 

a future visit.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people 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.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 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.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a 

severe 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 health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or 

call 1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and 

about filing a claim.

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts 

and additional information at www.fda.gov/

vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 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.

Vaccine Information Statement

Hepatitis A Vaccine

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

10/15/2021