Hepatitis A vaccine

Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause serious damage to your liver. Hepatitis A is highly contagious. 

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect you from hepatitis A.

Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis A

Anyone who wants to protect themselves against hepatitis A can talk to their vaccination provider about getting vaccinated.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends Hepatitis A vaccination for specific groups including:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia
• people with medical risk factors, including chronic liver disease and developmental disabilities
• people whose occupation increases their risk of acquiring hepatitis A
• people aged 1 year or older who travel to hepatitis A–endemic areas
• people whose lifestyle increases their risk of acquiring hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia or South Australia, at 18 months and 4 years.

Hepatitis A vaccines should not be given to:

• people who have had anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any hepatitis A vaccine or anaphylaxis after any component of a hepatitis A vaccine.

Hepatitis A vaccines are not generally recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Read more about Getting vaccinated.

How to get vaccinated against hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccines come as a single vaccine or as a combination vaccine that also protect against other diseases.

Hepatitis A vaccines include:

• Vaqta Paediatric/Adolescent formulation - PDF 27 KB*
• Avaxim - PDF 17 KB
• Havrix Junior - PDF 27 KB
• Havrix 1440 - PDF 27 KB
• Vaqta Adult formulation - PDF 27 KB
• Twinrix Junior (360/10) - PDF 127 KB
• Twinrix (720/20) - PDF 127 KB
• Vivaxim - PDF 23 KB.

* Indicates National Immunisation Program vaccine.

Your vaccination provider will tell you which vaccine they will give you.

Find product information and consumer medicine information for each available vaccine from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Where to get vaccinated

You can get your vaccine from a range of vaccination providers. Find out where and more about your vaccination visit at getting vaccinated.

Possible side effects of hepatitis A vaccination

You may experience minor side effects following vaccination. Most reactions are mild and last no more than a couple of days and you will recover without any problems.

Common side effects of hepatitis A vaccines include:

• pain, redness and swelling at injection site
• mild fever.

Talk to your vaccination provider about possible side effects of hepatitis A vaccines, or if you or your child have possible side effects that worry you.

The Consumer Medicine Information available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website lists the ingredients and side effects of each vaccine.

Learn more about the possible side effects of vaccination.