Hepatitis A pediatric vaccine

Hepatitis is a serious illness caused by a virus. It leads to inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can result in liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

The hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is used to help prevent this illness in children.

This vaccine works by giving your child a small amount of the virus, which helps the body build immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Vaccination with the hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is recommended for all children who are 12 months of age or older. This vaccine is also recommended for children who travel to certain areas of the world where hepatitis A is common.

Like any vaccine, the hepatitis A pediatric vaccine may not protect every person from the disease.

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.

Your child will receive a shot of the hepatitis A pediatric vaccine and then a booster shot 6 to 18 months later.

Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

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 child's 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 the doctor's instructions about how much of hepatitis A pediatric vaccine to use.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, have any medical conditions, or have any allergies.

Hepatitis A vaccine will not protect against infection with hepatitis B, C, and E, or other viruses that affect the liver. It may also not protect against hepatitis A if your child is already infected with the virus, even if there are no 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 is allergic to neomycin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an allergy to latex rubber; or
• a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine).

Hepatitis A pediatric vaccine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 months old.

Get emergency medical help if your child shows signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if they had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of all side effects your child experiences after getting this vaccine. When your child gets a booster dose, you need to inform the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Call your child's doctor immediately if your child has:

• extreme drowsiness, fainting;
• fussiness, irritability, or crying for an hour or longer;
• a seizure; or
• high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine).

Common side effects of hepatitis A pediatric vaccine may include:

• fever;
• irritability, drowsiness;
• loss of appetite;
• headache; or
• swelling, tenderness, redness, or warmth at the injection site.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hepatitis A Prophylaxis:

1 year and older: 0.5 mL intramuscularly-Administer a booster 0.5 mL dose 6 to 18 months after the first doseComments:-Administer in the deltoid region in children 2 years and older.-Administer in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in younger children.

Contact your doctor if your child misses a booster dose or falls behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Make sure your child gets all recommended doses of this vaccine, or the child may not be fully protected against disease.

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to happen.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Before your child gets this vaccine, inform the doctor about all other vaccines your child has had recently.

Also, let the doctor know if your child has received any drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system in the recent past, including:

• steroid medicine;
• cancer treatments;
• medicine for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• medicines for preventing organ transplant rejection.

If your child is taking any of these medications, he or she may not be able to get the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are completed.

This list is not complete. Other medications may impact the hepatitis A pediatric vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are mentioned here.