Hepatitis A Information for Health Professionals

Information on hepatitis A for health professionals, including disease facts, clinical and vaccine information, immunization schedules, reporting, and treatment of cases and contacts.

On this page:
Disease facts
Clinical features, testing and reporting
Post-exposure prophylaxis
Vaccine
Related topics

Disease facts

• Hepatitis A Virus (HAV): Quick Reference Guide for Healthcare Professionals
  Hepatitis A reference guide adapted from the CDC.
• CDC: Hepatitis A
  Information on the basics of hepatitis A including symptoms, spread, prevention, vaccination and treatment.
• About Hepatitis A
  Basic fact sheets about hepatitis A and vaccination, including materials that you can give to patients.

Clinical features, testing and reporting

• Hepatitis A Clinical Information
  Basic information on hepatitis A for health professionals, including epidemiology, communicability, post-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment of cases and contacts.
• Reporting Hepatitis A
  All cases of hepatitis A must be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health. Find out what needs to be reported, who needs to report diseases, which forms to use and where to find out more about the disease.

Post-exposure prophylaxis

In February 2018, the CDC: Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend hepatitis A vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis for all person's 12 months of age and older. Those over 40 years of age may also receive IG in addition to the hepatitis A vaccine, but consideration should be given to risk of the exposed person such as type of exposure, immunocompetence of the person, etc.

• CDC Update: Recommendations of the ACIP for Use of Hepatitis A Vaccine for Postexposure Prophylaxis and for Preexposure Prophylaxis for International Travel
  Publication of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) changes published November 2018.
• CDC: Sources for IG and HBIG
  Information from CDC on how to obtain IG.

Vaccine

Vaccine information

Vaccine recommendations

Hepatitis A vaccine is administered as a two-dose series beginning at 12 months of age. It can be given as a three or four dose series if using the combined Hepatitis A and B vaccine (Twinrix) for people 18 years of age and older. For additional details, refer to the immunization schedules on Immunization Best Practices.

• Routine vaccination: Recommended for all children and adolescents with vaccination initiated at 12 months of age.
• Catch-up vaccination: Recommended for everyone through 18 years of age who are not adequately vaccinated.
• Adults: Recommended for any person who is at risk for hepatitis A virus infection or severe disease from hepatitis A virus infection or for any person who is not fully vaccinated and requests vaccination.

Vaccine resources

• Immunize.org: Hepatitis A
  Includes clinical immunization resources for providers and vaccine recipients.
• Talking with Parents and Patients About Vaccines
  Includes resources for healthcare providers when discussing vaccines with patients.

Related topics

• CDC: Hepatitis A Resources for Health Care Professionals
  Clinical and patient resources on hepatitis A.
• MDH: Guidance for Health Professionals: International Health & Travel
  Resources for providing basic travelers’ health care.