VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated

Generic Name: Hepatitis A vaccine
Product Name: VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated

Indication

VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine is used for active pre-exposure vaccination against disease caused by the hepatitis A virus.
It is for use in adults and children over the age of 2. People at increased risk and for whom vaccination is recommended include:
– those travelling to areas where hepatitis A is endemic
– child-care workers
– carers for intellectually disabled people
– healthcare workers and teachers in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
– nurses and other healthcare workers in paediatric and infectious disease wards
– sewerage workers
– recipients of blood products
– people with chronic liver disease
– liver transplant recipients
– homosexually active men
– HIV infected adults

Action

VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine is a vaccine against disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The vaccine exposes the body to inactivated parts of the virus, which stimulates the immune system to produce protective levels of antibodies against it. In the event of future infection with the virus, the body is able to mount a rapid immune response and the person does not develop the disease.
VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine is a very effective vaccine, with >99% of patients showing full protection from infection 4 weeks after vaccination. Protection has been shown to last at least six years in preliminary studies.

Dose advice

VAQTA Hepatitis A Vaccine is for intramuscular injection and must not be injected intravenously or intradermally. The preferred site for administration is the deltoid muscle. The opened vaccine must be used immediately and any excess discarded.
Children aged 2-17
– one 0.5ml dose (Paediatric/Adolescent formulation) at the elected date
– one 0.5ml dose 6-18 months later
Adults
– one 1.0ml dose (Adult formulation) at the elected date
– one 1.0ml dose 6-18 months later
* VAQTA may be used as the booster dose following administration of a different brand of Hepatitis A vaccine
Postexposure prophylaxis
– vaccine may be concomitantly administered with immune globulin at different sites using different syringes
– use above vaccine dosing regimes and seek manufacturer advice for dose of immune globulin

Schedule

Common side effects

The commonly reported side effects include:
– headache
– malaise
– fever
– nausea
Pain, redness and inflammation at the site of infection may also occur.