What is Havrix Pediatric (hepatitis A vaccine)?
Hepatitis A is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. HAV can be spread through close personal contact, by drinking contaminated water or by eating contaminated food. HAV can also be spread by having unprotected sex with an infected person, by sharing needles when injecting drugs or by being stuck with a used needle on the job. Hepatitis A vaccine exposes the individual to a small amount of the virus (or to a protein from the virus) and causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Hepatitis A infection can cause a “flu-like” illness that leads to loss of appetite; diarrhea and vomiting; tiredness; jaundice (yellow skin or eyes); or pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach. Vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for persons 2 years of age and older traveling or working in areas with high rates of hepatitis A infection. These areas include Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (e
