Hepatitis A

Hepatitis

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 information
Other resources

Disease facts

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV): Quick Reference Guide for Health Care Professionals
Hepatitis A reference guide adapted from the CDC.

Viral Hepatitis A
CDC's main page on Hepatitis A.

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 Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend hepatitis A vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis for all persons age 12 months and older. Those over age 40 years 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 individual, etc.

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.

Sources for IG and HBIG
Information from CDC on how to obtain IG.

Vaccine information

Immunization Schedules
CDC immunization schedules.
- Guidance for Catch-Up of a Vaccine Series in Adults (PDF)
  MDH guidance to be used together with CDC's adult schedule.

Hepatitis A VIS
CDC's Vaccine Information Statement available in English and other languages.

Hepatitis A ACIP Vaccine Recommendations
CDC listing of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Other resources on hepatitis A

Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Hepatitis A
"The Pink Book" chapter on hepatitis A.

Travelers Health: Hepatitis A
CDC information on hepatitis A and international travel.

Travel Health
International travel information from MDH, including lists of vaccines recommended for various countries around the world. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travelers to a number of countries.