Health encyclopaedia

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Prevention of Hepatitis A

It is recommended that you should be immunised against hepatitis A, when travelling to countries where the virus is common. (In particular the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Central and South America, the Far East, and Eastern Europe).

A blood test will show whether you are already immune to the hepatitis A virus, due to previous infection. Otherwise you should have one injection 4 to 6 weeks before you travel and a booster 6 to 12 months later. Protection against hepatitis A begins four weeks after the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine. It is then believed that protection will last for at least 20 years.

If you have been in close contact with an infected person or if you haven’t time for the immunisation before you travel, you can get short- term protection, lasting 3 to 6 months; from an injection of antibodies called immune globulin. Immune globulin must be given within 2 weeks after exposure to hepatitis A virus for maximum protection.

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