Formulary
Hepatitis A vaccine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
A vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated vaccine containing adsorbed hepatitis A virus.
MedNext Academy | 4 min read
Hepatitis A vaccine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
A vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated vaccine containing adsorbed hepatitis A virus.
Drug action
A vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated vaccine containing adsorbed hepatitis A virus.
Indications and dose
**Immunisation against hepatitis A infection**
- **Child** (By Intramuscular Injection): 1-17 years Initially 0.5 mL for 1 dose, then 0.5 mL after 6-18 months, dose given as booster, the deltoid region is the preferred site of injection. The subcutaneous route may be used for patients with bleeding disorders (but immune response may be reduced).
**Immunisation against hepatitis A infection for Avaxim**
- **Child 16-17 years** (By intramuscular injection): Initially 0.5 mL for 1 dose, then 0.5 mL after 6-12 months, dose given as booster; booster dose may be delayed by up to 3 years if not given after recommended interval following primary dose, the deltoid region is the preferred site of injection. The subcutaneous route may be used for patients with bleeding disorders; not to be injected into the buttock (vaccine efficacy reduced).
**Immunisation against hepatitis A infection for Havrix Junior Monodose**
- **Child 1-15 years** (By intramuscular injection): Initially 0.5 mL for 1 dose, then 0.5 mL after 6-12 months, dose given as booster; booster dose may be delayed by up to 3 years if not given after recommended interval following primary dose, deltoid muscle is preferred site of injection in older children; anterolateral thigh is preferred site in infants and young children; not to be injected into the gluteal region. The subcutaneous route may be used for patients with bleeding disorders.
**Immunisation against hepatitis A infection for Havrix Monodose**
- **Child 16-17 years** (By intramuscular injection): Initially 1 mL for 1 dose, then 1 mL after 6-12 months, dose given as booster; booster dose may be delayed by up to 3 years if not given after recommended interval following primary dose, the deltoid region is the preferred site of injection; not to be injected into the gluteal region. The subcutaneous route may be used for patients with bleeding disorders.
**Immunisation against hepatitis A infection for Vaqta paediatric**
- **Child 1-17 years** (By intramuscular injection): Initially 0.5 mL for 1 dose, then 0.5 mL after 6-18 months, dose given as booster, the deltoid region is the preferred site of injection. The subcutaneous route may be used for patients with bleeding disorders (but immune response may be reduced).
Cautions
For all vaccines, general Acute illness; minor illnesses Cautions, further information Illness UKHSA advises vaccination may be postponed if the individual is suffering from an acute illness; however, it is not necessary to postpone immunisation in patients with minor illnesses without fever or systemic upset. Predisposition to neurological problems UKHSA advises: when there is a personal or family history of febrile convulsions, there is an increased risk of these occurring during fever from any cause including immunisation, but this is not a contra-indication to immunisation. In children who have had a seizure associated with fever without neurological deterioration, immunisation is recommended ; advice on the management of fever should be given before immunisation. When a child has had a convulsion not associated with fever, and the neurological condition is not deteriorating, immunisation is recommended ; children with stable neurological disorders (e.g. spina bifida, congenital brain abnormality, and peri-natal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy) should be immunised according to the recommended schedule; when there is a still evolving neurological problem , including poorly controlled epilepsy, immunisation should be deferred and the child referred to a specialist. Immunisation is recommended if a cause for the neurological disorder is identified. If a cause is not identified, immunisation should be deferred until the condition is stable. Impaired immune response and drugs affecting immune response Immune response to vaccines may be reduced in immunosuppressed patients, UKHSA advises consider seeking specialist advice.
Side effects
For all vaccines, general Common or very common Abdominal pain; appetite decreased; arthralgia; diarrhoea; dizziness; fatigue; fever; headache; lymphadenopathy; malaise; myalgia; nausea; skin reactions; vomiting Uncommon Hypersensitivity Side-effects For hepatitis A vaccine Common or very common Asthenia (uncommon in children); pain (uncommon in children) Uncommon Anxiety (in children); chills (in adults); cough; crying (in children); ear pain (rare in children); gastrointestinal disorders (rare in children); increased risk of infection (in adults); influenza like illness (rare in children); muscle weakness (in adults); musculoskeletal stiffness (rare in children); nasal complaints; paraesthesia (rare in children); respiratory disorders (rare in children); sensation of tightness (rare in children); temperature sensation altered (rare in children); vasodilation (rare in children) Rare or very rare Allergic rhinitis (in children); apathy (in adults); asthma (in children); ataxia (in children); burping (in children); chest pain; constipation (in children); dehydration (in children); drowsiness (uncommon in children); dry mouth (in adults); eye discomfort; gait abnormal (in children); gastrointestinal discomfort; infantile spitting up (in children); irritability (very common in children); menstrual disorder (in adults); migraine (in adults); muscle complaints (in adults); oral ulceration (in adults); oropharyngeal pain (in children); photophobia (in adults); screaming (in children); sleep disorders (uncommon in children); sweat changes; synovitis (in children); throat oedema (in adults); tremor (in adults); vertigo (in adults); watering eye (in adults) Frequency not known Guillain-Barre syndrome; thrombocytopenia
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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