What It Is and What It Protects
Against
Havrix Junior is an inactivated (killed) hepatitis A
vaccine. It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against the
hepatitis A virus (HAV) without causing infection. Hepatitis A is a viral liver
infection transmitted through contaminated food and water, or close contact
with an infected person. It can cause prolonged illness and, rarely, acute
liver failure.
Vaccination is especially recommended for travel to endemic
areas (parts of Africa, Asia, and South America), for children in high-risk
communities, and for household contacts of confirmed hepatitis A cases.
Dosing Schedule
Two intramuscular (IM) injections of 0.5mL (720 EL.U.) are
required for full, long-lasting protection:
• Dose 1: at the chosen date (ideally
at least 2 weeks before travel to an endemic area)
• Dose 2: 6 to 12 months after Dose 1
A single dose protects within 2–4 weeks. The
second dose extends immunity to approximately 25 years. If the schedule is
interrupted, do not restart — simply give the next dose as soon as possible.
Injection site: deltoid muscle (upper arm) in older
children; anterolateral thigh in infants and toddlers. Do not administer
intravenously or intradermally.
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PATIENT TIP:
Keep
your child's vaccination card up to date. Remember the second dose in 6–12
months — it is essential for long-term protection. If your child has a fever
on the day of vaccination, discuss with your clinician whether to defer. |
Side Effects
|
Frequency |
Side Effects |
|
Very Common (>1 in 10) |
Injection site pain, redness, and swelling;
headache; fatigue; loss of appetite |
|
Common |
Fever (>37.5°C), nausea, general malaise —
usually resolving within 24–48 hours |
|
Serious — Seek Urgent Help |
Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction):
difficulty breathing, throat swelling, rapid heartbeat, or collapse — seek
emergency care immediately. Febrile convulsions (rare). |
Contraindications and
Precautions
• Known anaphylaxis to a previous dose
of a hepatitis A vaccine or to any component, including trace neomycin residual
from manufacturing
• Defer vaccination during acute severe
febrile illness — minor colds or low-grade fever are not contraindications
• Immunocompromised patients
(chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, HIV): vaccine response may be reduced.
Serological testing to confirm seroconversion may be warranted after
completion.
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SEEK URGENT ATTENTION: Observe all patients for at least 15 minutes
after injection. Anaphylaxis equipment (adrenaline 0.3mg IM, IV
antihistamine, IV corticosteroid) must be immediately accessible wherever
vaccines are administered. |
Key Drug Interactions
• Can be co-administered with other
age-appropriate vaccines (typhoid, yellow fever, MMR) at different injection
sites
• Immunoglobulins given simultaneously
may blunt the antibody response — administer in separate limbs and check
serological response
• Immunosuppressive therapy reduces
vaccine efficacy — if possible, vaccinate before starting immunosuppression
Storage
• Refrigerate at 2–8°C at all times.
Freezing destroys the vaccine — check the cold chain on receipt. Protect from
light. Record batch number and expiry date in the patient's vaccination record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many doses does my child need?
Two doses. The first
protects within 2–4 weeks; the second dose, given 6–12 months later,
extends protection to approximately 25 years. Both doses are needed for full,
long-lasting immunity.
Q: Is it safe to give at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes. Havrix Junior can
be given simultaneously with other childhood vaccines, using separate injection
sites and separate syringes.
Q: My child is immunocompromised — will the vaccine still
work?
The vaccine may be less
effective in immunocompromised children. Your specialist may recommend
serological testing after the vaccine course to confirm that protective
antibodies have been produced.