Hepatitis A Vaccination
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious viral infection which is spread through food and water contaminated with the virus. Hepatitis A affects the liver causing jaundice, and whilst most people make a full recovery, it can result in severe liver failure – more often in adults – and death.
Hepatitis A is easily preventable through vaccination. Hepatitis A vaccine is suitable for adults and for children aged over 1 year.
Since the risk of infection within the UK is low, hepatitis A vaccine is not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule.
However, for anyone travelling to hot countries or places with unreliable food hygiene, the risk is significant and hepatitis A vaccination is strongly advised. Areas of high risk for hepatitis A include Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle-East, Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. Outbreaks have also occurred in the Czech Republic and Hawaii.
Before hepatitis A vaccination was introduced in the 1990s, hepatitis A was one of the commonest of all travel-related infections.
The vaccine is safe, highly effective, and produces long-lasting protection.
Who should be vaccinated against hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A vaccination is an important precaution for people travelling to parts of the world where hepatitis A is common due to poor food hygiene and poor sanitation.
The vaccine is also recommended for anyone in close contact with a person who has hepatitis A, people with long-term liver disease, men who have sex with other men, using drugs with others, and those who may be exposed to hepatitis A through their occupation.
Since protection is long-lasting and commonly recommended for so many destinations, vaccination against hepatitis A is a sensible precaution for all frequent travellers.
How many doses of the hepatitis A vaccine are required?
This depends on the type of vaccine used, which should be tailored to your travel plans.
Hepatitis A vaccine is available alone as a “single antigen” vaccine, or in combination with hepatitis B vaccine.
An initial dose of single antigen Hepatitis A vaccine provides protection for one year. A further dose is given preferably 6 to 12 months later, conferring long term protection (up to 20-25 years or longer).
Combination hepatitis A / hepatitis B vaccines (such as TwinRix) contain a lower dose of the hepatitis A component, so three or more doses may be needed for full protection.
How does the hepatitis A vaccine work?
The hepatitis A vaccine contains inactivated hepatitis A virus.
The vaccine contains purified killed hepatitis A virus, grown in human cell culture.
This stimulates the body to produce antibodies which will fight and prevent hepatitis A infection.
The vaccine can take approximately 2 to 4 weeks to reach full effectiveness. However, in studies where people have been vaccinated immediately following a known contact with hepatitis A, the vaccine has proven to be rapidly effective in averting infection.
Food and water-borne infection can be a serious travel hazard
Careful precautions reduce the risk of infection
Not all food-borne infections are preventable through vaccination, so wherever food hygiene is poor, be on maximum alert:
+ Ensure all food is cooked thoroughly and served hot
+ Remember that heat kills bacteria, parasites and viruses.
+ Be sure to eat food without re-contaminating it.
+ Stick to bottled water, with an intact seal, or boiled water, when tap water is unsafe,
+ Avoid ice (usually made from tap water)
+ Eat only fruit that can be peeled without handling or contamination (e.g. bananas)
+ Avoid high-risk food such as shellfish, raw or rare meat, salad, buffet food
+ Wash or sanitise hands frequently, and every time before eating
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).
The virus infects liver cells resulting in acute inflammation and liver damage. The illness and recovery can last many weeks.
How is hepatitis A spread?
The virus is present in the faeces and blood of people who have the infection. People become infected through close contact, or via contaminated, food or water.
Hepatitis A can spread through close contact with an infected person. The virus is highly contagious, and even the tiniest trace can result in infection. It also spreads by contamination of food or water, at any point in the food preparation process. contamination is more common in hot countries and wherever food hygiene is poor.
International travel is one of the highest risk factors for infection.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually occur around 2 to 6 weeks (average 4 weeks) after being exposed to infection, and can last for several weeks.
Such symptoms include:
- Feeling generally unwell
- High temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling sick/vomiting
- Pain in upper right part of your abdomen
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Dark urine and pale faeces
In children aged under 6, 70 per cent of cases may be completely without symptoms. However, such children may easily spread infection to others.
Adults are more likely to experience severe complications, acute liver failure and even death.
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Barry Milton
Excellent and efficient service from reception to consultation. Arranged good contact with my local GP which has enabled me to complete my treatment early next week.
Hannah
I went to Fleet Street Clinic to get the rabies vaccine and it was a great service! The jabs were the cheapest I could find around London but the clinic was really clean and professional. Would recommend to come here for travel vaccines!
David Butler
Very easy to set up the appointment, warm and professional welcome - very transparent medical advice on a vaccine. They were all fabulous!
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I was treated with kindness and professionalism both during phone calls about whether I was suited to the vaccination and during my visit to the clinic. Follow up was also perfect. Thank you.
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Had a great experience booking and getting a last minute rapid rabies jab with Fleet Street Clinic! They even booked me in out of hours for my jab because it was the only way to do it before my travels! Thank you to everyone who assisted me.
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I went for a covid booster vaccination and my experience was excellent. I arrived 10 minutes early for my appointment, the lady doing it (Lucy) immediately swallowed the last of her doughnut and took me through. She put me at my ease by chatting pleasantly while she prepared things, and then the jab itself was so quick and painless – I literally didn’t feel a thing, including her applying the plaster afterwards! It was a first class experience, all in the delightful setting of the quaint shop in historic Fleet Street.
FAQs
In addition to being vaccinated, all travellers should take careful precautions with food and water:
- Ensure all food is cooked thoroughly and served hot
- Stick to bottled water, with an intact seal, or boiled water, when tap water is unsafe,
- Avoid ice (usually made from tap water)
- Eat fruit that can be peeled or sliced without handling or contamination (such as bananas)
- Avoid high-risk food such as shellfish, raw or rare meat, salad, buffet food, reheated food
- Frequent hand washing
Hepatitis A vaccination is extremely safe and well tolerated. Any side effects are usually mild. The commonest adverse effects are pain, redness at the injection site, loss of appetite, feeling unwell, headache, and fever.
Hepatitis A vaccine is safe and widely used. It should not be given to any who has had a previous life-threatening reaction to the same vaccine.
The vaccine takes 2 to 4 weeks to reach full effectiveness, but some protection begins immediately, and the vaccine is useful even for last-minute travellers. In situations where the vaccine has been given immediately following known contact with an infected person, vaccination has generally been effective in averting infection.
On completion of the course, hepatitis A vaccination, provides long, lasting protection, believed to be for as long as 25 years or even more.
Infection with hepatitis A, confers, lifelong immunity. So, if you’ve had a proven infection, hepatitis A in the past, you do not need to be vaccinated.
If you would like to have a blood test to confirm past infection, this can easily be arranged.
