Hep A vax

[GooeyRN]

Does anyone know anything about the Hep A vax or have any good links to learn about it? We were at the peds office today (one year WBV) and we were offered the Hep A vax. I didn't know anything about it so refused it. (we selectively and delay vaxes) The office nurse said it is offered now, but not pushed and she did not say why. Thanks in advance.

Gooey RN

[CrunchyKat]

subbing

[LongIsland]

Would you clarify - do you only want information on the vaccine or the disease as well? Thanks.

FTR, Hepatitis A vaccines were just recently universally recommended right after the indication age was lowered to 12+ months.

The push for this vax will definitely increase, especially since there is another Hep A vaccine brand in the works and the total number of licensed Hep A vaccines will be brought to three. With three brands, they are planning on pushing it as hard as DTaP and Hep B.

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Would you clarify - do you only want information on the vaccine or the disease as well? Thanks.

FTR, Hepatitis A vaccines were just recently universally recommended right after the indication age was lowered to 12+ months.

The push for this vax will definitely increase, especially since there is another Hep A vaccine brand in the works and the total number of licensed Hep A vaccines will be brought to three. With three brands, they are planning on pushing it as hard as DTaP and Hep B.

Thanks for the info. I would like infor on the vax mostly, but wouldn't mind a little on the disease its self. I am a nurse but never took care of anyone with Hep A (only b and c) so its not something that I know a lot about, we didn't spend more than 5 minutes on it in nursing school. Is Hep A something serious or common that it is being given to babies? I don't think I ever heard of a baby having it.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

Is Hep A something serious or common that it is being given to babies? I don't think I ever heard of a baby having it.

According to the CDC Pink Book, most children who contract Hep A are asymptomatic and there is no specific treatment for it. I call it "glorified food poisoning."

I'll be back with a link to the Pink Book chapter in this post.

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/hepa.pdf

[GooeyRN]

Thanks, LI. I will check it out.

Gooey

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

Thanks, LI. I will check it out.

Gooey

No problem, here's a link to the product inserts (just click on the brand and it will open up): http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm

[LongIsland]

One important thing about Hepatitis A - once you get Hep A, you cannot get it again and it is not a chronic disease. Since it's most often asymptomatic, I would imagine immunity is more significant than the CDC would like us to believe.

Here's the CDC "fact sheet," including risk factors: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/fact.htm

Keep in mind that this vaccine has been universally recommended even though most children are not at risk. Not only are they not at risk, but most children will not even show symptoms of the disease and gain life-long immunity.

[mamakay]

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hepat...article_em.htm

Unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic (ongoing, long-term) disease. Although the liver does become inflamed and swollen, it heals completely in most people without any long-term damage. Once you have had hepatitis A, you develop lifelong immunity and cannot get the disease again.

Hepatitis A Symptoms
Many people with HAV infection have no symptoms at all. Sometimes symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed. Older people are more likely to have symptoms than children. People who do not have symptoms can still spread the virus.

[Gitti]

http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/hep...pregnancy.html

Hepatitis A and Pregnancy

Hepatitis A is transmitted by the oral-fecal route (such as from contaminated water or diapers, for example). It occurs in roughly 1 in every thousand pregnant women worldwide. It can be diagnosed by checking the levels of IgM anti-HAV antibodies (which can persist for months after the infection). The main treatment is rest and a nutritious diet, and usually the woman will recover within one to two months.

If a newborn is exposed, the infection is usually mild and they will have a lifelong immunity to the disease.

[mrsfatty]

Hepatitis A
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/menus/vaccines.htm#hepa (cdc’s version of hepatitis a vaccine information)
http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_...a/vaqta_pi.pdf (VAQTA package insert: by Merck)
http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_havrix.pdf (HAVRIX package insert: by GSK)
http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_twinrix.pdf (TWINRIX vaccine package insert: by GSK)
Reactions to Hep a vaccine
Reactions to Hep a/h vaccine
Reactions to Hep ab vaccine

[gentlebirthmothr]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

Thanks for the info. I would like infor on the vax mostly, but wouldn't mind a little on the disease its self. I am a nurse but never took care of anyone with Hep A (only b and c) so its not something that I know a lot about, we didn't spend more than 5 minutes on it in nursing school. Is Hep A something serious or common that it is being given to babies? I don't think I ever heard of a baby having it.

gooeyrn and other posters,

VUMC (Vanderbilt Medical Center) Reporter Profile-Sell's pioneering career defined by humility and strength. I bookmarked VUMC Reporter because I'm interested in it still. Anyway, I'm : on this issue.

[GooeyRN]

Thank you for all of the great links. I will be busy for a while.....