hepatitis A pediatric vaccine

Pronunciation:	hep a TYE tis A VAX een
Brand:	Havrix Pediatric, Vaqta Pediatric

What is the most important information I should know about hepatitis A vaccine?

Vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for adults and children who travel or work in areas where hepatitis A infection is common. These areas include Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, southern or eastern Europe, and others. This vaccine and any booster shots should be received at least 2 weeks prior to travel or expected exposure to HAV.

This vaccine should be postponed in children who have a serious illness or infection. A child with a minor illness such as the common cold may receive the vaccine.

What is hepatitis A vaccine?

Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus that affects your liver. Hepatitis A vaccine is an immunization given to keep you from getting hepatitis A virus (HAV). There are other types of the disease (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C), but this vaccine will only protect against hepatitis A.

The hepatitis A virus is shed in the stool (feces) of a person infected with the disease. When the infected person does not properly wash his or her hands after using the bathroom, this person can then contaminate foods or other surfaces touched or handled. HAV can be spread through close personal contact with an infected person, or by eating contaminated food. HAV can also live in water that is contaminated with sewage. The virus is then spread when contaminated water is used as drinking water or in harvesting or washing fruits and other foods that are eaten uncooked.

Hepatitis A infection can cause a "flu-like" illness that leads to loss of appetite; diarrhea and vomiting; tiredness; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.

Hepatitis A vaccine contains a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for adults and children who travel or work in areas where hepatitis A infection is common. These areas include Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, southern or eastern Europe, and others. This vaccine and any booster shots should be received at least 2 weeks prior to travel or expected exposure to HAV.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving hepatitis A vaccine?

Before receiving a hepatitis A vaccine, tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to any drug, vaccine, chemicals, foods, or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you:

have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;
are using drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids);
have a bleeding disorder, blood disease, or heart problems
have cancer; or
are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays or radiation.

You may not be able to receive the hepatitis A vaccine if you are affected by any of the situations listed above.

This vaccine should be postponed in children who have a serious illness or infection. The vaccine may be given to a child who has only a minor illness such as the common cold.

Talk to your doctor before receiving hepatitis A vaccine if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast-feeding a baby.

How is hepatitis A vaccine given?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give the hepatitis A vaccine as an injection.

Your doctor may recommend using an aspirin-free pain reliever to reduce fever or pain after receiving this vaccine. Aspirin-free pain relievers include acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others). You may need to use this medicine for up to 24 hours after the vaccine is given. Your doctor can tell you what dosages of these medications should be used.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if a booster shot of hepatitis A vaccine is missed or if you get behind schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of hepatitis A vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after getting hepatitis A vaccine?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving hepatitis A vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of hepatitis A vaccine?

Getting hepatitis A disease is much riskier than getting hepatitis A vaccine. However, any vaccine may cause medical problems such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk of hepatitis A vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

high fever; or
behavior changes.

Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your doctor if you have:

mild to moderate fever;
loss of appetite;
fatigue;
headache; or
soreness where the shot was given, lasting a day or two.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect hepatitis A vaccine?

This vaccine may not work as well if given to a person who is taking certain medications that affect the immune system. Some of these medications include:

steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);
an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);
treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication), radiation, or x-rays;
azathioprine (Imuran);
basiliximab (Simulect);
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
etanercept (Enbrel);
leflunomide (Arava);
muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
sirolimus (Rapamune); or
tacrolimus (Prograf).

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect hepatitis A vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors.

Where can I get more information?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on this and other vaccines. The CDC can be reached at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), or accessed on the Internet at www.cdc.gov. Your doctor or pharmacist may have additional information or suggest additional resources regarding hepatitis A vaccine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 12/28/05.

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