What is hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis A is spread through contact with the
stool (bowel movements) of a person infected with the hepatitis A virus. This usually occurs by eating
food or drinking water that has become contaminated as a result of handling by an infected person.
Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.
The hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is used to help prevent this disease in children. The vaccine
works by exposing your child to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop
immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the
body.
Vaccination with hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is recommended for all children between the
ages of 12 months and 23 months, and in children and adults who travel in certain areas of the world
where hepatitis A is a common disease.
Other risk factors for hepatitis in children include: receiving treatment for hemophilia or other
bleeding disorders, or being in an area where there has been an outbreak of hepatitis A.
Like any vaccine, the hepatitis A pediatric vaccine may not provide protection from disease in
every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Hepatitis A pediatric vaccine will not protect your child against infection with hepatitis B, C, and
E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect against hepatitis A if the child is already
infected with the virus, even if he or she does not yet show symptoms.
Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic
reaction to any vaccine containing hepatitis A, or if the child has received cancer chemotherapy or
radiation treatment in the past 3 months.
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if your child has:
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy
bruising;
-
a history of seizures;
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the
case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before
receiving this vaccine.
How should I take hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in
a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
The hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is given in a series of 2 shots. The first shot is usually given
when the child is between 12 and 23 months old. The booster shot is then given 6 months later. Your
child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's
instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
To prevent hepatitis A while traveling, the child should receive this vaccine at least 2 weeks
before the trip. Your child's doctor will determine the best dosing schedule for your situation.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the
next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this
medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder
such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose of hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next
dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about hepatitis A pediatric vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the
child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side
effects.
Becoming infected with hepatitis A is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving
the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of
serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if your child has 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 the child has any of these serious side effects:
-
extreme drowsiness, fainting;
-
fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
-
seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
-
high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the
vaccine).
Less serious side effects include:
-
mild fever;
-
mild fussiness or crying;
-
headache;
-
dizziness, tired feeling;
-
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
-
joint pain;
-
sore throat; or
-
swelling, redness, or a hard lump where the shot was given.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Hepatitis A pediatric vaccine will not protect your child against infection with hepatitis B, C, and
E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect a child from hepatitis A if the child is
already infected with the virus, even if the child does not yet show symptoms.
The hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is given in a series of 2 shots. The first shot is usually given
when the child is between 12 and 23 months old. The booster shot is then given 6 months later. Your
child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's
instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Vaccination with hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is recommended for all children between the
ages of 12 months and 23 months, and in children who travel in certain areas of the world where
hepatitis A is a common disease.
Other risk factors for hepatitis in children include: receiving treatment for hemophilia or other
bleeding disorders, or being in an area where there has been an outbreak of hepatitis A.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. If your child does not
receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more
severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this
vaccine.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the child
receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with hepatitis A is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving
the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of
serious side effects is extremely low.
What should I avoid while taking hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving this vaccine
unless your child's doctor has told you otherwise.
What other drugs will affect hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently
received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has received drugs or treatments in the past 2 weeks that can
weaken the immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be able to
receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.
There may be other drugs that can affect this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received. This includes vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication
without telling your child's doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of hepatitis A pediatric vaccine?
