Vaqta Pediatric

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

The Vaqta Pediatric is used to help prevent this disease in children.

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

Vaccination with Vaqta Pediatric 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 Vaqta Pediatric may not provide protection from disease in every person.

Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or 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).

Vaqta Pediatric 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 he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any side effects your child experiences after receiving this vaccine. When your child receives a booster dose, you will need to inform the doctor about any side effects from the previous shot.

Call your child's doctor right away if your child has:

• extreme drowsiness, fainting;
• fussiness, irritability, 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 Vaqta Pediatric may include:

• fever;
• irritability, drowsiness;
• loss of appetite;
• headache; or
• swelling, tenderness, redness, or warmth 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 vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

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 Vaqta Pediatric 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 Vaqta Pediatric to use.

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

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

An overdose of this vaccine is not likely to happen.

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding 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 recently taken any medications or treatments that can weaken the immune system, such as:

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

If your child is on 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 done.

This list is not complete. Other medications may affect Vaqta Pediatric, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all potential drug interactions are mentioned here.