Hepatitis A vaccine

Key points about hepatitis A vaccine

  • The hepatitis A vaccine protects against infection from the hepatitis A virus.
  • It is also known as Havrix® or Havrix Junior®.
  • Find out about the vaccine and possible side effects.
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Hepatitis A vaccine gives protection against infection from the hepatitis A virus. The vaccine works by causing your body to produce antibodies against the virus responsible for hepatitis A infection and in this way protects (or provides immunity) against the disease.  

The hepatitis A virus is carried in the faeces (poo) of an infected person. You can come into contact with this when you drink contaminated water, eat food prepared by someone with hepatitis A virus who did not wash their hands after going to the toilet or have sexual contact with someone with the virus. Read more about hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is uncommon in New Zealand but the vaccine is funded for people at risk of severe infection, such as:

  • transplant patients
  • children with chronic liver disease
  • people who live in close contact with someone infected with hepatitis A.  

Immunisation is recommended but not funded for the following groups:

  • adults with chronic liver disease including chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C
  • men who have sex with men
  • some occupational groups (ie, healthcare workers exposed to faeces/poo, employees of early childhood services, particularly where there are children too young to be toilet trained, sewage workers, those who work with non-human primates (eg, zoos, research laboratories)
  • food handlers during community outbreaks
  • military personnel who are likely to be deployed to high-risk areas.

Vaccination can be considered in others at higher risk, such as injecting drug users. Hepatitis A vaccine is not routinely recommended for all children in New Zealand, although it may be considered during community outbreaks.

Traveling overseas

If you are planning to travel to a developing country, you may be at risk of hepatitis A infection and should consider getting immunised.

  • High-risk areas include Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East.
  • Moderate-risk areas include the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe (including Russia) and parts of the Pacific.

The vaccine should be given at least 2 weeks before departure so that your body has time to respond to the vaccine.

Havrix and Havrix Junior® are vaccines that protect against hepatitis A.

  • Havrix is the higher strength vaccine, used in people 16 years and older.
  • Havrix Junior is the lower strength vaccine used in children 1 to 15 years. 

These vaccines are given intra-muscularly (injected into the muscle) of the upper arm muscle in adults and older children, and into the thigh muscle in infants.

To get the full benefit of the hepatitis A vaccine, two doses of the injection are needed.

  • After one dose of hepatitis A vaccine, protection from hepatitis A lasts for at least 1 year.
  • A second boostering dose, given 6 to 12 months after the first dose, gives longer term protection. It is predicted that protection could last for 20 years.

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. 

Side effects What should I do?
  • Pain, swelling and redness at the injection site (hard and sore to touch)
  • This is quite common after having the vaccination.
  • It usually starts a few hours after getting the injection and settles within a few days.
  • Place a cold, wet cloth or ice pack where the injection was given. Leave it on for a short time. 
  • Do not rub the injection site.
  • Tell your doctor if troublesome.
  • Read more After your immunisation(external link)
  • Fever
  • It is quite common for the first 1 or 2 days after receiving the injection and usually settles within a few days.
  • Dress lightly, with a single layer of clothing. Do not wrap your child in a blanket.
  • Keep the room cool, use a fan.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • The routine use of paracetamol is not recommended following vaccinations, but may be used if your child is miserable or distressed.
  • Tell your doctor if the fever persists.
  • Read more After your immunisation(external link)
  • Feeling unwell, tired or weak
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle ache
  • Headache
  • These are quite common for the first 1 or 2 days after getting the injection.
  • These usually settle within a few days.
  • Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
  • The routine use of paracetamol is not recommended following vaccinations, but may be used for relief of severe discomfort. 
  • Tell your doctor if troublesome.
  • Read more After your immunisation(external link)
 
  • Signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rash, itches, swelling of your face, lips or mouth, or problems breathing
 
  • Tell your doctor immediately or phone HealthLine 0800 611 116.
Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product.(external link)

There are many different settings in which you can get a vaccination. These include medical or health centres, pharmacies, community-based clinics including marae-based clinics, mobile health clinics and mobile vaccination services.

Read more about who can give vaccinations and where to get vaccinated.

The following links have more information on hepatitis A vaccines:

References

  1. Hepatitis A(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2018 
  2. Hepatitis A(external link) Immunisation Handbook, NZ, 2020
  3. Hepatitis A(external link) The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ
  4. Havrix(external link) The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ
  5. Hepatitis A vaccine(external link) New Zealand Formulary

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Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland

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