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Hepatitis A Vaccine for Adults

The hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A -- a serious, sometimes fatal, liver disease, which can require hospitalization. The hepatitis A virus, present in the stool of infected people, spreads through:

Close personal contact, such as household or sexual contact with an infected person
Contaminated water or ice
Contaminated raw shellfish, fruits, vegetables, or other uncooked foods

If you get hepatitis A as an adult, you are more likely to have signs and symptoms than young children who are infected. Symptoms may last less than two months and include:

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Flu-like illness, including fever and fatigue
Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
Dark urine
Severe stomachache, diarrhea, or nausea

Which adults should receive the hepatitis A vaccine?

The CDC recommends that adults have the hepatitis A vaccine (HAV) if you:

Are traveling to or working in countries where hepatitis A is common (such as countries in Central or South America, Mexico, many Asian countries, Africa, and Eastern Europe). It's important to know that this disease is much more common than cholera or typhoid among international travelers.
Will have close contact with an international adoptee from a country where hepatitis A is common.
Are a man who has sex with men.
Use street drugs.
Have chronic liver disease.
Work with primates infected with hepatitis A or with the virus in a research lab.

Also, if you work with food, you should consider getting the hepatitis A vaccine.

Are there any adults who should not get the vaccine?

Do not get the hepatitis vaccine if you:

Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a hepatitis A vaccine or to any vaccine component. Hepatitis A vaccines contain alum and some contain 2-phenoxyethanol.
Are ill, unless it is a mild illness.
Are pregnant.

How and when should you receive the hepatitis A vaccine?

You receive the injection in the muscle of your upper arm. Start the vaccine series when you are at risk of infection and at least one month before traveling. You need two doses at least six months apart.

There are also combination vaccines for adults that protect against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. However, these have a different dosing schedule. Ask your doctor for details. You might prefer this option if, for example, you are traveling to countries with high rates of both diseases.

Are there any dangers or side effects associated with the vaccine?

It's good to know you cannot become infected by getting the hepatitis A vaccine. But in very rare cases, people can have a severe allergic reaction to the hepatitis A vaccine. This occurs within a few minutes to hours of getting the shot. In extremely rare cases, this reaction can be fatal. It's important to remember that the risks from the disease are much greater than the risk from the vaccine itself.

Signs of a severe reaction to the hepatitis A vaccination include: