What should you know about hepatitis A vaccine after exposure?

Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated food or water and close contact with an infected person. After an exposure, a clinician considers when it happened, the type of contact, your vaccine history, age, pregnancy, liver health, and immune system. They may recommend vaccination or another preventive option. These measures are different from treatment for an infection that is already established.

Call a clinic or health service as soon as possible and explain the exposure without waiting for symptoms. Share the date, setting, food or contact details, and any vaccine records. Wash hands carefully after using the toilet and before preparing food, and avoid preparing food for others if a clinician advises this. Monitor for nausea, loss of appetite, fever, or feeling generally unwell.

Seek medical advice if you develop dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, or worsening tiredness. Urgent care is appropriate for confusion, severe dehydration, repeated vomiting, or marked drowsiness. Symptoms can take time to appear, so feeling well immediately after exposure does not settle the question.

Ask whether post-exposure vaccination is suitable, whether household or close contacts also need advice, how long to watch for symptoms, and which tests would be used if illness develops.