First licensed in 1995, the hepatitis A vaccine was add to the childhood immunization schedule in 1996.
Originally for children living in communities with the highest hepatitis A disease rates, now all children get their first dose of the hepatitis A vaccine when they are 12 to 23 months, with a second dose six to 18 months later.
Still, many adults are not immune to hepatitis A.
Getting vaccinated is an especially good idea if you will be traveling out of the United States or are in another risk group, including food handlers, daycare workers, health care workers, and people who consume high risk foods, especially raw shellfish.
More Information on Hepatitis A Vaccines:
- What to Do If Your Child Is Exposed to Hepatitis A
- Are More People Dying of Viral Hepatitis?
- Where Are the Latest Hepatitis A Outbreaks?
- Ask the Experts about Hepatitis A Vaccines
- CDC – Hepatitis A Questions and Answers
- CDC – Hepatitis A VIS
- Hepatitis A ACIP Vaccine Recommendations
- Pinkbook – Hepatitis A
- Yellowbook – Hepatitis A
- FDA – HAVRIX (package insert)
- FDA – VAQTA (package insert)
- FDA – TWINRIX (package insert)
- Hepatitis A Prevention Mandates for Daycare and K-12