Vaccine Information Leaflet
Hepatitis A vaccines help to prevent infection caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).
The virus is found in the stool of people with Hepatitis A, and is usually spread through ingestion of food and water contaminated by faeces, either through poor personal hygiene or poor sanitation. It may also be transmitted through close contact with an infected person.
Hepatitis A infection generally does not show any symptoms in young children. Older children and adults are more likely to have symptoms.
Common symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), dark urine, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, severe stomach pain and diarrhea.
It is recommended in individuals (who are at least age 12 months old) travelling to or living in developing countries where Hepatitis A is widespread. For others who are at higher risk of contracting Hepatitis A and wish to protect themselves, please consult your doctor for advice.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
It is usually given by injection into a muscle.
It may be given on its own as one shot or in combination with other vaccines (e.g. Hepatitis B) as one shot.
When given on its own, two doses are usually required, one primary dose followed by a booster dose 6 to 18 months after.
When given in combination with Hepatitis B vaccine, two to three doses may be required depending on age. Please consult your doctor for more details.
Please see a doctor if these side effects do not get better or become worse.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform your healthcare professional immediately.
The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on May 2021
This article was last reviewed on Thursday, August 12, 2021