Hepatitis A Adult Vaccine: What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Hepatitis A Vaccine?
content provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.
| Pronunciation: | hep a THE tis VAX een |
| Brand: | Havrix, Vaqta |
What is the most important information I should know about hepatitis A vaccine?
Hepatitis A vaccine will not protect you against infection with hepatitis B, C, and E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect you from hepatitis A if you are already infected with the virus, even if you do not yet show symptoms.
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Vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children between the ages of 12 months and 23 months, and in children and adults who travel in certain areas of the world where hepatitis A is a common disease. |
Other risk factors for hepatitis include: being a homosexual male; having chronic liver disease; using intravenous (IV) drugs; receiving treatment for hemophilia or other bleeding disorders; working in research laboratories or around animals (especially monkeys) where you may be exposed to the hepatitis A virus; or being in an area where there has been an outbreak of hepatitis A.
You will most likely receive 2 separate injections of the hepatitis A vaccine at 6 months apart, depending on your exposure or risk of infection. Children should receive their first hepatitis A vaccine between 12 months and 23 months of age.
Be sure to receive all doses of the hepatitis A vaccine recommended by your healthcare provider or by the health department of the state you live in. If you do not receive the full series of vaccines, you may not be fully protected against the disease.
Serious side effects from hepatitis A vaccine are very unlikely to occur. Getting hepatitis A virus is a much more dangerous risk to your health than the small chance that you will have a serious side effect from the hepatitis A vaccine.
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| Last updated: | April 25, 2007 |
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© 2007, Cerner Multum, INC. Version: 5.02.
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