Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Hepatitis A Vaccination
Pronounced (hep-ah-TY-tiss)
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can affect anyone. Vaccines are available for long-term prevention of HAV infection in persons 1 year of age and older. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can also help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- CDC's official Hepatitis A disease website
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Frequently Asked Questions about Hepatitis A
- About hepatitis A and hepatitis A vaccination February 2008
Parent's Guide to Childhood Immunization (screen-reader version) - Pictures of Hepatitis A
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Fact Sheet on Hepatitis A
- Foodborne Hepatitis A
- CDC en Español! - Hepatitis
- Travelers information
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Do I need this vaccine?
(recommended at 1 year old) - Side Effects of vaccine
Excerpt from Vaccine Information Statement
- Vaccine Dosages and Schedules Q&A
- Questions and Answers (exit)
- Hepatitis A prevention mandates (exit)
- Travelers information
Information and updates on risks, precautions, etc.
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Hepatitis A
- Clinical / brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - MMWR: Prevention of Hepatitis A Through Active or Passive Immunization
- Hepatitis A vaccine and Immune Globulin
- Ask the Experts about Hepatitis A (exit)
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition) - MMWR: Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Infections with Hepatitis Viruses in Correctional Settings
- Proper handling of Hep A and Hep A/B vaccines
References and Resources on Hepatitis A
- Current ACIP Recommendations
MMWR: Prevention of Hepatitis A Through Active or Passive Immunization: Recommendations of the ACIP (MMWR 2006; 55 (No. RR-07) - Related MMWR articles, links, and references (hepatitis A)
- Pink Book's chapter on Hepatitis A (14 pages, compliant)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccines (exit) (33 pages)
From the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors - contains general info about the vaccines; roles of state healthcare service providers; populations that need the vaccines; and lessons learned from implementing vaccination programs. - VFC resolution regarding hepatitis A vaccine
- Hepatitis websites listed by state
Surveillance
- Surveillance manual's chapter on Hepatitis A August 2008
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance Forms, Disease Burden Data & Publications
Provider Education
- 2009 Clinical education slide set [PDF - 123KB] UPDATED May 2009
from the 11th edition "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - CDC Educational materials on Hepatitis A
- Viral Hepatitis Training Opportunities
- Newsletter from IAC "Hep Express" (exit)
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) - Podcasts on Hepatitis A
Materials for Patients
- CDC patient materials (brochures, posters, etc.)
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Prevent hepatitis A (brochure)
- Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences (exit)
From the Immunization Action Coalition - What I need to know about Hepatitis A (exit)
- Viral hepatitis info. in languages other than English (exit)
from Immunization Action Coalition - Protect Yourself from Hepatitis
- Protect yourself against hepatitis A and hepatitis B: Guide for gay and bisexual men
- Patient materials and more resources from IAC (exit)
- Hepatitis A: Questions and Answers (exit)
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 5/08 - Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease:
Vaccination can protect you! (exit)
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 9/08 - Hepatitis A - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen (exit) (Spanish materials)
.pdf files: To view and print the .pdf files on this site, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use this link to obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (exit). We highly recommend that you upgrade to the latest version if haven't already.
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Content last reviewed on April 22, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases