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.