Hepatitis A Vaccination Guidelines

Vaccine Characteristics and Administration

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all hepatitis A vaccines licensed in the US are inactivated, whole-cell virus vaccines, administered intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle 1, 2, 4
• The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that all hepatitis A vaccines contain aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant 2
• None of the hepatitis A vaccines licensed in the United States have ever contained thimerosal, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2

Immunogenicity and Effectiveness

• The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that within 1 month of receiving a first dose of hepatitis A vaccine, 97% of children and adolescents and 95% of adults develop protective antibody levels 3, 5
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that after completing the recommended schedule, virtually 100% of individuals are protected against hepatitis A infection 3

Storage Requirements

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all hepatitis A vaccines should be stored and shipped at temperatures ranging from 35.6°F-46.4°F (2°C-8°C) 1, 4
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that vaccines should not be frozen 4