What should you know about hepatitis A vaccine in children?

Hepatitis A is an infection that affects the liver. Vaccination trains the immune system to recognise the virus without causing hepatitis A. Children may need vaccination because exposure can occur through contaminated food or water, close contact, or travel. The vaccine does not treat an existing infection, so a child who is unwell may need assessment separately.

Bring the child's vaccination record to the appointment and tell the clinician about previous vaccine reactions, allergies, current illness, or medicines. After the injection, keep the child comfortable, offer fluids, and observe the injection area. Follow the appointment plan for any further dose. For broader information, see Hepatitis A Vaccination and Hepatitis A.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, collapse, or a rapidly worsening reaction after vaccination. Contact a clinician promptly if the child has persistent vomiting, marked weakness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or cannot keep fluids down. Feeling generally unwell, nausea, or loss of appetite can have many causes and should be interpreted with the child's overall condition.

Ask which hepatitis A schedule applies to your child's age, whether a recent illness changes the appointment, what reaction is expected at the injection site, and when to call for advice. Ask whether symptoms suggest hepatitis A and whether a liver function test is appropriate.