Immunizations
Hepatitis A is a highly infectious liver disease. The Vaccine Information infection can be spread by personal contact and through Hepatitis A Resources contaminated food and water. Unlike Hepatitis B and C, there is no chronic infection resulting from Hepatitis A.
- 180,000 people contract Hepatitis A every year in the U.S.
- up to 22% of those infected are hospitalized
- on average, at least 5 weeks of work are lost due to infection
- food service workers
- day care and residential care staff and clients
- individuals who travel to countries with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis A (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/maps/hav_map.htm)
Anyone at risk for Hepatitis A should receive the vaccination. The vaccine contains an inactive form of the Hepatitis A virus. The most commonly reported side effects include: soreness at the injection site, headache, tiredness, and loss of appetite; these side effects usually only last 1 or 2 days.
Hepatitis A Resources
The CDC releases a vaccine information statement each year that contains important information about the virus and vaccine.
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-hep-a.pdf
Questions and answers about Hepatitis A from the CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/faqa.htm
Fact sheet on Hepatitis A from the CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/fact.htm
