People aged ≥1 year who travel to moderately to highly endemic areas for hepatitis A are recommended to receive hepatitis A vaccine

People aged ≥1 year are recommended to receive hepatitis A vaccine if they travel to moderately to highly endemic areas for hepatitis A.⁶ This includes expatriates, and people who are visiting friends and relatives.

1 dose of a monovalent hepatitis A vaccine provides protective levels of antibodies against hepatitis A virus.⁷ A 2nd dose is recommended 6–12 months after the 1st dose, to increase the duration of protection.

See Table. Recommended doses and schedules for monovalent hepatitis A vaccines.

If the person travelling is also at risk of acquiring hepatitis B, they can receive a combination hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine. This is usually given in 3 doses. Travellers aged 1 to <16 years can receive a 2-dose schedule using Twinrix 720/20 (minimum 6 months interval between doses). 

Travellers aged ≥16 years can receive hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine in a ‘rapid’ schedule if there is limited time before departure.⁸ This consists of a single dose on each of:

• day 0
• day 7
• day 21
• 12 months 

The 4th dose is important to ensure longer-term protection.

See Table. Recommended doses and schedules for combination hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. 

For more details, see Hepatitis B.

To provide longer-term protection against hepatitis A in travellers who previously received a combination hepatitis A/typhoid vaccine, at a minimum of 6 months later, give 1 dose of a monovalent adult formulation hepatitis A vaccine.