Hep A vaccination is a must have as it protects the babies as well as adults against epidemics and also helps in limiting the spread of the disease. Learn more about Hep A vaccination right here.The Hep A vaccine is against the hepatitis A virus. This virus can be a real pain for the patients as it causes high fever, nausea, jaundice and vomiting. This can often lead to a community-wise epidemic as well. The hospitals and the childcare centres are the hot-spots for such viruses.
What is Hep A Virus?
Maurice Hilleman while working with Merck invented the Hep A vaccine and it was the first ever invention of a vaccine against the disease. The vaccination gives 95% protection to the persons receiving this vaccine and also safeguards him or her for at least 15 years. There are two types of vaccination against the disease, i.e. the one containing an inactive
Hep A virus and the other one containing a live attenuated virus. Both of them protect the vaccine receiver against the disease effectively.
Who Needs Hep A Vaccination?
- Children belonging to the age group of 12-23 months. If they are not vaccinated till 2 years of age, they can be vaccinated later as well.
- Before travelling abroad, any healthy passenger of below 40 years of age should get this vaccine. In addition to the Hep A vaccine, he or she should be given the immune globulin (IG) vaccine as well for the one with chronic liver related issues and immuno-compromised persons.
- Users of illegal drugs.
- Persons working with hepatitis A infected animals.
Who Should Not Get Hep A Vaccination?
- Any person who have already suffered from life threatening reactions after getting a Hep A vaccine.
- Anyone who is allergic to such similar vaccination shots.
- A person who is suffering with fever, cold and other such illnesses should wait till he or she gets fit before receiving the vaccine.
- It is still not determined if a pregnant woman can get this vaccine or not and hence, a pregnant woman should always let her doctor know about her condition before getting the vaccination.
Benefits of Hep A Vaccination
The vaccination protects the individual against epidemics as well. Some infected persons do not show such symptoms but still he or she can spread the virus. So, if the little kids are vaccinated against the virus, the spread of the disease can be limited.
The virus can be spread easily through unwashed hands, dirty places and the day care centres. The doctors, nurses should get this vaccination before treating or handling the patients. Also, it can be transmitted through the contaminated foods and water. Hence, it is really important to keep the food sealed.
Side Effects of Hep A Vaccination
The most possible side effect of this vaccination is redness, swelling in front of the injection site. Also,
allergic reactions can be seen in some cases.
Almost 15% of the infected persons can relapse the symptoms in the next six months time. In the United States, only a few cases have confirmed this disease to be fatal. This vaccination is therefore highly recommended all around the globe these days. It is even scheduled in the combined vaccines in the United States. Before 2006, this Hep A vaccine was only recommended in the 11 states.
It is advisable for you to make sure that your child gets this vaccine along with the other important vaccinations so that there is no threat for his or her life in future. It is vital for the parents to make their child’s future secured and vaccinating them in their childhood is one of the ways of protecting them against some painful as well as risky diseases in the days to come.
What is the importance of hepatitis A vaccination? Can adults take Hep A vaccine? What is an ideal schedule for vaccinating babies against hepatitis A? Discuss here. 
