Do I Need Hepatitis A Vaccination for Travel?

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection commonly acquired through contaminated food or water. Vaccination may be recommended for travellers visiting countries where hepatitis A is more common, even when accommodation appears comfortable.

This guide explains how destination, accommodation, food and water exposure, previous vaccination and personal health affect the recommendation. For the clinic’s current price, available products and dose schedules, see the hepatitis A vaccine service page.

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that infects the liver. It spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route, including contaminated food, water, hands and surfaces. Symptoms may include fever, tiredness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine and jaundice.

Young children may have mild or unnoticed infection, whereas illness can be more severe and prolonged in adults and people with existing liver disease.

Who should consider hepatitis A vaccination?

Vaccination may be advised for travellers to countries where sanitation and hepatitis A control differ from the UK, particularly when:

• Eating food prepared in settings where hygiene may be uncertain.
• Visiting friends or relatives and sharing ordinary household meals.
• Travelling for a prolonged period or to rural areas.
• Backpacking, volunteering or working with limited access to clean water.
• A medical condition could increase the consequences of infection.

Country recommendations change, so check all destinations on the TravelHealthPro country pages.

Our hepatitis A vaccine

A clinician will select an age-appropriate product after checking previous doses, departure date and individual suitability. Current availability and pricing are shown below.

Hepatitis A vaccination schedule

Avaxim is an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine for adults and adolescents aged 16 years and over. An age-appropriate hepatitis A vaccine must be selected for younger travellers following clinical assessment.

The Avaxim product information recommends the second dose preferably between 6 and 12 months and permits it up to 36 months after the first dose.

How long does hepatitis A immunity last?

The first dose provides initial protection for the immediate trip, but the second dose is important for longer-term immunity. Current TravelHealthPro guidance describes protection for up to 25 years after the second dose of a completed hepatitis A course.

UKHSA advises a booster at 25 years for people who remain at ongoing risk until further evidence on persistence of protection is available. People with an altered immune response may need earlier or individualised advice. A delayed second dose does not usually mean the course must be restarted, but the appropriate timing should be confirmed clinically.

What if departure is less than two weeks away?

Seek advice rather than assuming it is too late. Protection develops progressively after vaccination and may not be established until around day 14, but vaccination can still be worthwhile for last-minute travel.

When hepatitis A vaccination is clinically indicated, having it late is generally better than travelling without it. Arrange an assessment as soon as possible so a clinician can consider your destination, departure date, health and previous vaccination.

Hepatitis A alone or a combined vaccine?

Hepatitis A is available as a single-antigen vaccine and in products combined with hepatitis B or typhoid. Combined vaccines have different schedules and age indications. The right choice depends on which diseases present a genuine risk, previous doses and time available.

A combined product should not be selected merely to reduce the apparent number of appointments; the full licensed course for each component must still be completed.

Food and water precautions

Vaccination does not prevent every cause of food poisoning or travellers’ diarrhoea. Continue to use safe water, practise careful hand hygiene and choose food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot.

Side effects and suitability

Common effects include injection-site pain or redness, headache, tiredness, feeling unwell, nausea or reduced appetite. These are usually mild and short-lived.

Tell the clinician about previous vaccine reactions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, immune conditions, liver disease, bleeding disorders, current illness, medicines and allergies. Vaccination may be postponed during an acute severe febrile illness.

Is hepatitis A vaccination available through the NHS?

Hepatitis A is one of the travel vaccines that may be available through the NHS when clinically indicated. GP availability and waiting times vary. See our guide to NHS and private travel vaccinations in Southampton.

Book a hepatitis A vaccine in Southampton

Official sources and further reading

• TravelHealthPro: hepatitis A.
• UKHSA Green Book: hepatitis A.
• Avaxim Summary of Product Characteristics.