The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for:
- all children 12 through 23 months of age
- people who are at increased risk of infection
- people who are at increased risk of severe hepatitis A disease
- any person who desires immunity
The American Academy of Pediatrics has also recommended that people get vaccinated against hepatitis A if they are traveling to a country while seeking an adoption in a country with medium or high rates of hepatitis A infections.
A new policy statement that will be published in the October issue of Pediatrics, "Recommendations for Administering Hepatitis A Vaccine to Contacts of International Adoptees," updates the hepatitis A vaccine recommendations again.
The AAP now recommends routine hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated "household members and close contacts, including baby-sitters, when children are adopted from countries with high or intermediate rates of hepatitis A infection," ideally at least two weeks before the arrival of the international adoptee.
Keep in mind that although the hepatitis A vaccine has been routinely recommended for toddlers since 2006, many older children and adults have not received the vaccine.
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Vaccine Preventable Diseases
