Hepatitis A vaccination: vaccination schedule, side effects, contraindications

As an adult, you need to monitor your health and not forget about disease prevention. One of the effective ways to avoid many diseases is vaccination.

According to the vaccination calendar adopted by the Ministry of Health in 2021, before the age of 16, a child must be vaccinated against the 10 most common infections that cause:

• hepatitis B;
• tuberculosis;
• measles;
• mumps;
• rubella;
• diphtheria;
• tetanus;
• whooping cough;
• polio;
• hemophilia.

If immunization was carried out according to the vaccination calendar, vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus remain mandatory in adulthood. If vaccinations were not given in childhood or the vaccination schedule was not followed, then you need to contact a physician to draw up an individual vaccination schedule and get vaccinated.

How long do vaccinations last?

All vaccinations have different durations of action. The effect of some vaccinations lasts for 1, 5, 10 years, but most often - for life. Compliance with the vaccination calendar allows up to 16 years of age to obtain stable, lifelong immunity to major infectious diseases. And, for example, it is recommended to be vaccinated against pneumococcal infection every 5 years, against tetanus - every 10 years, since the number of antibodies to these infections gradually decreases and immunity weakens, therefore, to increase the level of protection of the body, a new dose of the vaccine is needed.

Standard vaccination schedule

Children from 1.5 years of age are injected with 0.5 ml of the drug intramuscularly into the anterior surface of the thigh. After 3 years, the vaccine is given in the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. For some blood pathologies, the vaccine is administered intradermally. One dose of the drug forms immunity within 1–2 weeks and provides protection for 1.5 years.

Imported vaccines are administered twice with an interval between injections of 6–18 months, depending on the drug. After a full course, immunity is formed for 20–25 years. The domestic vaccine “GEP-A-in-VAK” is administered according to the following scheme:

• 1st dose - at 3 years;
• 2nd dose - after 1 month;
• 3rd dose - after 1.5 years.

The drug can be administered on the same day with other vaccines except BCG or with an interval of 1 month after other vaccinations. In patients with immunodeficiencies, after a full course, the level of antibodies may be insufficient - in this case, the doctor prescribes additional vaccination.

What vaccinations do adults get?

Adults receive vaccinations that are included in the vaccination schedule approved by the Ministry of Health (against tetanus and diphtheria), missed in childhood, or those that are not included in the list of mandatory vaccinations, but are recommended by the Ministry of Health (for example, vaccination against hepatitis A after contact with an infected patient or before travel to another country).

Vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus is mandatory for adults. If vaccinated in childhood, the first diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (DT) is administered at age 26, and then repeated at 10-year intervals. And if there were no vaccinations in childhood, then immunization is carried out in 3 stages: the first dose, a month later - the second, and six months after the second - the third.

If some vaccinations were missed in childhood or vaccination was not carried out, it is not necessary to administer vaccines against all 10 diseases. Only children are vaccinated against hemophilia, polio and tuberculosis, since they are most susceptible to these infections.

It is recommended to get the vaccinations you missed in childhood:

• against measles, rubella and mumps (2 doses of COC with an interval of 1 month);
• against hepatitis B (the doctor determines the vaccination schedule individually);
• from chickenpox (for adults who did not have it in childhood and were not immunized);
• from whooping cough (for pregnant women, if they have not been vaccinated before and have not been ill, since the disease is dangerous for a newborn).

In order to get vaccinated, you must contact your family doctor, who will draw up an individual immunization schedule taking into account your medical history and type of vaccine. In addition, you can additionally get vaccinated against:

• hepatitis A (if you have had contact with an infected person or are planning to travel to regions where there is a frequent outbreak of the disease);
• hepatitis B;
• tick-borne encephalitis (the disease is transmitted by ticks, the infection affects the central nervous system and can cause meningitis, encephalitis, and lifelong paralysis). Immunity is developed by administering the vaccine three times over the course of a year, then revaccination is required every 3 years;
• meningococcal infection (dangerous for young people, it is necessary to be vaccinated before the age of 24);
• pneumococcal infection (dangerous for people over 50 years of age);
• human papilloma virus (causes cancer);
• influenza (done annually) and other infections.

Is it possible to still get hepatitis B despite being vaccinated?

Cases of hepatitis B after a full three-time vaccination are casuistic. Analyzing such incidents, experts came to the conclusion that the sick were given a low-quality vaccine without observing the temperature regime for storing the drug. or the process of developing antibodies after vaccination occurred against the background of immunosuppressive therapy, when medications suppressed the activity of one’s own immune system and blocked any immune reactions. As a result, despite vaccination, the person did not develop protective antibodies to the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus.

What vaccinations are needed to travel abroad?

To travel abroad, you need vaccinations against diseases specified in the state vaccination calendar, as well as additional ones against diseases common in the country where you plan to go. The list of recommended vaccinations differs in each state.

You can find out without which vaccinations visiting the country is dangerous or entry will be prohibited, on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the state where the trip is planned. It is worth considering that it takes from 2 to 8 weeks to develop immunity, so vaccinations must be started in advance. After vaccination, be sure to fill out documents confirming your vaccination.

How can I find out if I was vaccinated as a child?

You can find out whether you were vaccinated in childhood from your medical card at the clinic at your place of residence. After patients reach adulthood, vaccination cards are stored in the archive for 5 years, after which the documents are destroyed. Currently, all patient data, including vaccination history, is stored electronically by the family doctor. If documents are not found in the registry and archives of the clinic, you can look in the school’s medical office, in a hospital at a university or military registration and enlistment office - a vaccination card must be presented to these institutions.

If information about vaccinations has not been preserved anywhere, you can find out which vaccinations were done previously by taking a test (blood from a vein) for the presence of antibodies in the blood to diseases such as measles, diphtheria, hepatitis, etc. If the study shows that the level of antibodies is normal, This means that immunity has been developed and there is no need to vaccinate again.

When to get a flu shot?

A flu shot must be done every year, since according to WHO, between 300 and 500 thousand people worldwide die from influenza every year. Children, pregnant women, elderly people and those with chronic diseases are at risk.

It is necessary to get vaccinated against influenza before the annual outbreak of the disease - in September or October. Immunity is developed within 7-14 days after vaccination. You can get vaccinated and when the seasonal flu outbreak has already begun, antibodies to the infection will begin to be produced and, even if you get sick soon after vaccination, it will be easier for the body to cope with the virus.

The flu shot is recommended, but is not included in the list of free vaccines, so each person makes the decision whether to get vaccinated or not. However, vaccination allows you to develop immunity to strains of the virus that are active in the current season and completely avoid the disease or transfer it much easier.

Possible adverse reactions

Post-vaccination reactions are evidence of an active immune response of the body to the introduction of pathogen proteins, therefore they are considered a normal variant and do not require treatment.

In children, post-vaccination reactions after vaccination against hepatitis A develop in 10–12% of cases. More often observed is an increase in temperature up to 38 ºС, weakness, soreness, redness, hardening and swelling of the tissue in the area of ​​the papule.

At the age of over 16 years after vaccination, the following are possible:

• general weakness, chills and fever;
• allergic reactions - from skin rash to Quincke's edema;
• decreased blood pressure;
• headache and joint pain;
• labored breathing;
• nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia;
• convulsions, paralysis.

Often, adults develop adverse reactions to vaccination due to alcohol consumption. In addition, alcohol impairs the production of antibodies to the hepatitis A virus.

Experts recommend calling an ambulance:

• at temperatures above 39 °C;
• convulsions against a background of normal temperature;
• paralysis;
• Quincke's edema;
• bronchospasm.

Contraindications to vaccination

Hepatitis A vaccination is contraindicated:

• in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases - until the condition stabilizes;
• acute infectious and inflammatory diseases - until complete recovery;
• hypersensitivity to any of the components of the vaccine.

A medical examination before vaccination allows you to minimize post-vaccination complications. Pregnant women are vaccinated with non-live vaccines under strict medical supervision.

Viral hepatitis A, especially without effective treatment, can cause irreversible changes in the liver. The only way to protect yourself from this disease is vaccination. A full course of immunization of 2-3 vaccinations reliably protects children and adults for 20-25 years. To get more information or get vaccinated, contact us in any convenient way.

At what age do adults get the measles vaccine?

Adults can get vaccinated against measles at any age if there is no medical record of vaccination in childhood, there was contact with a sick person and the analysis did not show the presence of antibodies to the virus in the blood. If vaccination was carried out in childhood (at 1 year and 6 years), revaccination is not necessary, since immunity is developed for life.

For adults who did not receive a measles vaccine as a child, the vaccine requires two doses of the vaccine, 1 month apart, to develop an immune response. Usually, people who have had measles or were vaccinated in a timely manner have good immunity against the disease, however, if a blood test does not show the presence of antibodies to the virus, the vaccination should be repeated.

Indications

Vaccination against viral hepatitis A should be given to the following categories of people:

• children who permanently live or are planning to visit areas with an unfavorable epidemiological situation for the disease;
• people who, due to their occupation, are constantly in contact with children and potentially infectious patients (staff of medical and educational institutions);
• military personnel;
• employees of public catering establishments, employees of organizations servicing water supply, sewerage, treatment facilities, and heating networks.

It is recommended that the child be vaccinated 2 weeks before he goes to preschool or school. Emergency vaccination is also carried out, which helps if done no later than 10 days after contact with the virus.

The indication for vaccination is the lack of immunity to the type A virus. Before vaccination, an analysis is done for the presence of specific immunoglobulins that provide protection against hepatitis A. There is no need to repeat immunization.

It is also recommended to vaccinate people suffering from liver diseases if they do not have immunity to the hepatitis A virus. Botkin's disease poses a great danger to people with viral hepatitis B and C and drug addicts. These categories of citizens should be vaccinated against hepatitis A.

Those who do not have immunity to the virus should definitely get vaccinated if they are going to travel to areas with an unfavorable epidemiological situation for this disease. Such regions include remote areas of Africa and Asia. Immunization should begin no later than a month before the intended trip.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary to protect against cancer of the cervix, oropharynx, genitals, and anus. The virus also causes the formation of papillomas or condylomas (neoplasms reaching a size of 2-3 cm) on the mucous membranes. Initially, these are benign growths, which, however, can degenerate into malignant ones and cause cancer.

Vaccination is most effective before sexual activity begins, since transmission of the virus can occur during the first sexual contact. Basically, the vaccine is given to girls, but in recent years it has also been recommended to boys in order to stop the transmission of HPV through sexual contact, as well as to protect men from the development of cancer.

WHO recommends that adolescent girls and boys be vaccinated starting from 9-11 years of age. However, the HPV vaccine can also be given at older ages - up to 45 years.

The vaccination schedule depends on the vaccine and is selected individually after consultation with a doctor. Vaccination allows you to develop immunity against diseases caused by HPV for a period of at least 15 years.

Preparations for vaccination against hepatitis B virus

When choosing a vaccine, you should pay attention to its purity and the number of complications after it. You can find out the answers to these questions from your doctor or by reading the data on the Internet.

Should adults be vaccinated against hepatitis?

Adults should be vaccinated against hepatitis B if they were not vaccinated in childhood or if the person is at risk (health workers, people whose relatives have hepatitis B). Hepatitis is an infectious disease that leads to liver cirrhosis and cancer. You can only protect yourself by getting vaccinated. The vaccination regimen is selected by the doctor after conducting an examination and studying the patient’s medical history.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for people who have liver problems or are planning to travel to countries in Africa, Asia or North America where outbreaks of this disease occur frequently. Adults need 2 doses of the vaccine with an interval of 6-12 months to develop stable immunity.

What is hepatitis B in adults?

Hepatitis B virus disease is a wide range of disease conditions determined by the activity of the virus itself and the response of the human immune system to its introduction. After the virus enters the body, bypassing the acute phase of hepatitis B, which usually lasts about six months, the pathological process can enter the chronic stage.

Further, there may be several scenarios for the development of events: someone is simply a carrier of the virus without the formation of inflammation in the liver, that is, hepatitis. The virus lives in liver cells, does not multiply very intensively and does not cause aggression towards liver cells. Fortunately, in our country there are a majority of such people with the hepatitis B virus.

The situation is worse for those whose hepatitis B virus is more aggressive and causes active inflammation in the liver - that same chronic hepatitis B. In this case, treatment is necessary, since without it the disease can progress to the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer. In addition, a very small proportion of those infected with the hepatitis B virus may be in the phase of immune tolerance, when the virus actively multiplies and is found in large quantities in the blood, but the immune system does not produce antibodies and does not respond to the virus. In this case, hepatitis does not develop and liver cells are not damaged.

Do adults need a tetanus vaccine?

Adults need a tetanus vaccine every 10 years. Tetanus is an acute infectious disease that affects the nervous system, causes seizures and often leads to death. You can become infected by scratches or cuts from metal or wood objects. You can only protect yourself from the disease by getting vaccinated.

The tetanus shot does not provide lifelong immunity, so it must be repeated regularly. According to the Ministry of Health calendar, children receive their last tetanus vaccination at the age of 16, that is, starting from the age of 26, repeated immunization is required. If vaccination was not carried out in childhood, it is necessary to administer the vaccine three times: a month after the first dose, the second is administered, and six months after the second, the third.

Tetanus vaccination is combined with diphtheria vaccination, another routine vaccination approved in the Ministry of Health calendar. In order to get vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus, you need to contact your family doctor, who will conduct an examination, clarify the presence of allergies and reactions to the previous administration of the vaccine and, in the absence of contraindications, refer you for vaccination. The vaccination date and vaccine series will be recorded in the patient's medical record.

Are there possible side effects from vaccination?

The hepatitis B vaccine is recognized as the safest in the world. That is why it is administered without fear to newborns in the first hours of life. Side effects sometimes include short-term pain in the arm after the injection. Allergic reactions are extremely rare, most of them are mild to moderate and can be easily controlled with antiallergic drugs.

“Associating vaccination against the hepatitis B virus with the development of serious systemic and autoimmune diseases, autism, neurological and other diseases is completely inappropriate: if you understand the mechanism of formation of protective antibodies, then “linking” this simple process to the development of the listed painful conditions will seem, at the very least, slander “- assures Maria Matsievich.