Hepatitis A vaccines help to prevent infection caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).
The virus is found in the stool of people with Hepatitis A, and is usually spread through ingestion of food and water contaminated by faeces, either through poor personal hygiene or poor sanitation. It may also be transmitted through close contact with an infected person.
Hepatitis A infection generally does not show any symptoms in young children. Older children and adults are more likely to have symptoms.
Common symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), dark urine, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, severe stomach pain and diarrhea.
Who Should Receive the Hepatitis A Vaccine?
It is recommended in individuals (who are at least age 12 months old) travelling to or living in developing countries where Hepatitis A is widespread. For others who are at higher risk of contracting Hepatitis A and wish to protect themselves, consult your doctor for advice.
How Is the Hepatitis A Vaccine Given?
It is usually given by injection into a muscle.
It may be given on its own as one shot or in combination with other vaccines (e.g. Hepatitis B) as one shot.
When given on its own, two doses are usually required, one primary dose followed by a booster dose 6 to 18 months after.
When given in combination with Hepatitis B vaccine, two to three doses may be required depending on age. Consult your doctor for more details.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Common side effects include:
Please see a doctor if these side effects do not get better or become worse.
Rare but serious side effects include:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform your healthcare professional immediately.
Disclaimers
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity, and Watsons), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last Updated on September 2021
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