What side effects can the vaccination have?
Basically, it is important to know that this combination vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, the components of which are in no way contagious. However, Twinrix or the vaccine combination against Hepatitis A and like all other drugs, may have side effects, which do not necessarily occur with every vaccinated person. General symptoms that may occur after vaccination are headache, tiredness or even pain and redness at the injection site.
Furthermore, diarrhoea or nausea may occur. Less frequently dizziness, vomiting and abdominal pain, or a slight infection of the upper respiratory tract with fever may occur. There are also a number of side effects, but these are rare or very rare.
Pain as a result of the vaccination can, as already mentioned, occur in the form of headaches. Furthermore, localized pain in the area of the injection site may also occur. Since the vaccination is administered as an injection into a muscle mostly on the upper arm, it leads to local displacement of muscle tissue, which then becomes as painful as a sore muscle. As already mentioned, however, this does not have to occur in every vaccinated person.
When should I not be vaccinated?
As a matter of principle, you should not be vaccinated in case of infections with fever above 38°C and wait for a later date. A normal cold is usually not a contraindication for vaccination. However, this should be discussed with the doctor treating you. Furthermore, if an allergic reaction to the vaccine used is already known, no further vaccination should be given.
What should be observed with children?
The vaccination recommendation for children currently exists only for hepatitis B. This is done with a combination vaccination starting from the second month of life with repetition in the third and fourth month of life, as well as a final booster between the eleventh and fourteenth month of life. The combination vaccination contains additional protection against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio and Haemophilus influenzae. If you plan to travel abroad to tropical or subtropical countries, you should also be vaccinated against hepatitis A viruses. A detailed consultation should be made with the pediatrician.
