Hepatitis A vaccination (synonym: HAV vaccination) is a typical travel vaccination. However, it is also indicated in patients at increased individual risk or in individuals and occupational groups at increased risk. The vaccine is an inactivated vaccine.
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, which is almost exclusively transmitted fecal-orally – from feces through poor hygiene.
The following are the recommendations of the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute on hepatitis A vaccination:
Indications (areas of use)
- I: Individuals with sexual behavior with increased risk of exposure; e.g., men who have sex with men (MSM)Individuals with frequent transmission of blood components, e.g., hemophiliacs, or with diseases of the liver/with liver involvementResidents of psychiatric institutions or comparable care facilities for persons with behavioral or cerebral impairment
- B: Persons at increased occupational risk of exposure, including trainees, interns, students, and volunteers at comparable risk of exposure in the following areas:
- Health care services (including ambulance, rescue, kitchen, laboratory, technical, cleaning, psychiatric, and welfare services).
- Persons in contact with wastewater, e.g., sewer and sewage treatment plant workers
- Activity (including kitchen and cleaning) in day care centers, children’s homes, sheltered workshops, asylum seekers homes and the like.
- R: Travelers in regions with high prevalence of hepatitis A.
Legend
- I: Indication vaccinations for risk groups with individual (not occupational) increased risk of exposure, disease or complications and for the protection of third parties.
- B: Vaccinations due to an increased occupational risk, e.g., after risk assessment in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act / Biological Substances Ordinance / Ordinance on Occupational Medical Precautions (ArbMedVV) and / or for the protection of third parties in the context of occupational activities.
- R: Vaccinations due to travel
Contraindications
- Persons with acute diseases requiring treatment.
- Allergy to vaccine components (see manufacturer’s supplements).
Implementation
- Basic immunization: vaccination with an inactivated vaccine (inactivated vaccine) is usually performed twice, 6-12 months apart. In addition, there is the possibility of passive immunization with an anti-HAV immunoglobulin – antibodies against hepatitis A viruses – as pre-exposure prophylaxis.
- Combined hepatitis A+B vaccine:
- Basic immunization consisting of 2 vaccine doses 4 weeks apart and another dose after 6 months or
- Rapid schedule on days 0, 7, 21, 365.
At least 2 injections must be administered before departure.
- Booster vaccination according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Effectiveness
- Reliable efficacy
- Vaccination protection from about 2 weeks after the first partial vaccination
- Duration of vaccination protection after completed basic immunization at least 25-30 years.
Possible side effects / vaccination reactions
- Local reactions such as swelling and redness.
Vaccination status – checking vaccination titers
| Vaccination | Laboratory parameters | Value | Rating |
| Hepatitis-A | HAV IgG ELISA | ≤ 20 mIU/ml | No sufficient vaccination protection to be assumed |
| > 20 mIU/ml | Assume sufficient vaccination protection |
