Hepatitis A Vaccine

Overview

Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The disease is often mild but can cause liver failure and death, more common in older people and people with health risk factors. The disease is contagious and spreads through close contact, as well as by eating contaminated food.

Childhood Recommendations

Children should get two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine at the age of 12–23 months and a second dose 6 months after the first.

Infants aged 6–11 months who are traveling out of the U.S. and need protection should be given one dose of the vaccine followed by the additional two doses.

Children who are 2–18 who haven’t been vaccinated should be vaccinated.

Adult recommendations

Adults not previously vaccinated and who want to be protected may be vaccinated.

Adults, including pregnant women, with risk factors should be vaccinated. View the list of risk factors.

Immunization schedules

Childhood schedules: 

• Birth—6 years
• Ages 7–18 years

Adult schedule:

• Adult (19 years and older) vaccine schedule.

Additional information about the hepatitis A vaccine

Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Statement

CDC’s Hepatitis A main page