1. What is hepatitis A? – 2. Who should get hepatitis A vaccine and when? -- 3. Some people should not get hepatitis A vaccine or should wait. -- 4. What are the risks from hepatitis A vaccine? -- 5. What if there is a serious reaction? -- 6. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program -- 7. How can I learn more?

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of people with hepatitis A.

It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing HAV. A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others within the same household.

Hepatitis A can cause:

• “flu-like” illness

• jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine)

• severe stomach pains and diarrhea (children)

People with hepatitis A often have to be hospitalized (up to about 1 person in 5).

Adults with hepatitis A are often too ill to work for up to a month.

Sometimes, people die as a result of hepatitis A (about 3–6 deaths per 1,000 cases).

Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection