Hepatitis A Vaccine Protects You and Your Baby

"Hepatitis A Vaccine Protects You and Your Baby

 The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting the hepatitis A vaccine. Babies infected with hepatitis A may not show any symptoms, and can pass the virus on to unvaccinated adults who can get very sick. 

What is Hepatitis A, and How Does It Spread?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. When symptoms are apparent, it can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Although rare, hepatitis A can even cause death in some people. Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (poop) of a person who has the virus. It can spread when:

• Infected persons do not wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom and then touch objects or food
• Caregivers do not properly wash their hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person

Babies and Hepatitis A

Babies can get hepatitis A by putting contaminated objects or hands or food in their mouths. Hepatitis A spreads easily, even when people use good hand washing practices. Babies can pass hepatitis A infection to their caregivers who come in contact with the virus from diapers or stool. That’s why the hepatitis A (hepA) vaccine provides the best protection for everyone!

Why Should Your Baby Get the Hepatitis A Vaccine?

Hepatitis A infection rates have declined more than 95 percent since the hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995.

The hepatitis A vaccine:

• Protects your child from hepatitis A, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects other people from the disease. This is because children under 6 years old with hepatitis A usually don’t have symptoms, but they can still pass the disease to others.
• Keeps your child from missing school or childcare (and keeps you from missing work to care for your sick child)..."
  Hepatitis A vaccine