Your child's pediatrician may have mentioned that she's due to receive the hepatitis A vaccine at one of her upcoming well visits. Here's everything you need to know about it, including the number of doses your baby will get.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a very contagious liver infection that is common in many parts of the world. The good news is that thanks to the HepA vaccine, new cases of hepatitis A are estimated to have fallen to 1,500 a year in the United States, a significant drop from about 31,000 annually when the vaccine was first recommended in 1996.
The hepatitis A virus is spread through close contact with an infected person, through contact with the feces of an infected person, by touching items or objects with the virus on them (one more reason to wash your hands frequently!), and by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.[1]
Hepatitis A can last a few weeks to several months, and most people recover without any long-term effects. However, don't let the relatively short duration fool you, because for some people, the infection can lead to liver failure and even death.
Symptoms of the illness can include:[2]
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored bowel movements
The tricky part with Hepatitis A is that not everyone shows symptoms, including young children, which makes it very easy for the virus to go undetected and to spread.
When should babies get the hepatitis A vaccine?
The hepatitis A vaccine is safe and effective and provides long-term protection.
The first HepA vaccine dose should be given between 12 and 23 months. The second dose should be given at least six months later.
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Those who were older than 1 at the time when the hepatitis A vaccine was routinely recommended should also complete the two-dose vaccination schedule, especially before international travel.
Your doctor should be able to address any concerns you may have about the HepA vaccine, its symptoms and the protection it provides. Keep in mind that the vaccine is crucial to your baby's health as well as the health of your family, friends and community.
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