Hepatitis A Vaccination Vaccination schedule Hepatitis A vaccination can be given to children and adolescents from 2 to 18 years of age and adults from 19 years onwards. The former group is given a half strength formulation of vaccine. The vaccination confers protection against hepatitis A within two to four weeks. Adequate time should be allowed before departure to higher risk areas. A booster dose is recommended between 6 and 12 months after the first dose in order to confer longer protection. Recommendation Hepatitis A vaccination can be given to people who travel repeatedly or stay in areas of high and intermediate risk. Adverse reactions Injection site soreness is the most commonly seen undesirable effects and it resolves spontaneously. Mild local redness and swelling occurs in about 4% of all vaccinations. General undesirable effects are usually mild and last for less than 24 hours. They include malaise, headache, fever and loss of appetite. These general undesirable effects were reported with the frequency ranging between 1 - 14 %. Contraindications Hepatitis A vaccination should be postponed in subjects suffering from acute severe febrile illness. It should not be administered to subjects who have shown signs of hypersensitivity after previous hepatitis A vaccine administration.