Hepatitis A
What is it?
Hepatitis A is a serious infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A causes liver inflammation. It can also cause fatigue, itching, loss of appetite, fever and vomiting. It is spread most often through contaminated food or water. It also spreads through person-to-person contact with the stool (poop) of an infected person. Thankfully, there’s a vaccine to protect against hepatitis A.
Why is the vaccine important?
Many people think the only way to contract hepatitis A is through sexual contact or drinking contaminated water. These methods of transmission are actually rare. If someone with hepatitis A does not wash their hands well after going to the bathroom and touches objects or food, the disease can spread.
Many hepatitis A outbreaks originate from poor food handling. Hepatitis A outbreaks over the past 20 years have been primarily caused by contaminated food. Multiple outbreaks resulted in thousands of people getting sick from hepatitis A. More recently, hepatitis A has spread directly from person to person. This is now the more common way for it to spread in the U.S. There were tens of thousands of illnesses reported between 2016 and 2020, mostly in adults. Efforts to increase vaccination rates among unhoused adults and people who use drugs have reduced the spread.
Most people with hepatitis A feel sick for a few weeks or several months. Most recover, but some experience lasting liver damage or liver failure.
Progress
From 1966 to 1995, there were between 21,500 and 59,600 reported cases of hepatitis A in the U.S. annually. In 2007, after routine use of hepatitis A vaccine, there were just 2,979 reported cases of hepatitis A.
The hepatitis A vaccine was first introduced in 1995 for specific groups of children. In 2006, it was recommended for all children. Since the vaccine became available, hepatitis A infection rates in the United States decreased by 97%.
Vaccine Recommendations
All children should get 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine. They should get their first dose between 12 – 23 months of age and their second dose 6 months after the first. Children ages 2 - 18 years who were not previously vaccinated should get 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine 6 months apart. Older children and adults who have not been vaccinated and want to be protected against hepatitis A can also get the vaccine.
Side Effects
Vaccines, like any medicine, can cause side effects (also known as "adverse reactions"). Most side effects are mild and go away within a few days. Common side effects include fever, headache or body aches. They can also include redness where the shot was given and tiredness. Side effects are normal. They can even be a good sign that the immune system is working to build antibodies that will fight off future infections!
For the hepatitis A vaccine, side effects may also include temporary loss of appetite.
Remember, vaccines are continuously studied. They are also closely monitored for safety. Research continues to show that vaccines are safe, and the benefits outweigh the risks. The risk of a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine is rare (about 1 in 1 million). The choice not to vaccinate is ultimately more risky. Not vaccinating may lead to catching a potentially deadly disease.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about vaccine side effects. In the event of a serious allergic reaction, call 9-1-1.
