Hepatitis A is transmitted through faeces and can contaminate unwashed foods.
Havrix is not given as part of the routine immunisation schedule but is funded for some special groups at high risk of the disease.
It is also recommended for some people whose occupation puts them at risk of exposure to faeces (poo / tūtae) or involves food preparation, and for people travelling overseas.
Havrix for funded individuals is available from ProPharma.
Havrix is also the vaccine available for purchase by individuals who are not eligible for funded vaccine. Havrix for non-funded individuals is available from Healthcare Logistics.
Other brands:
Combination vaccines that include hepatitis A:
Havrix Junior is approved for use for children from 1 year of age and adolescents to 16 years of age.
Havrix 1440 is approved for use for adolescents from 16 years of age and adults.
Havrix is not given as part of the routine immunisation schedule.
Havrix is recommended and funded for:
Havrix is also recommended but not funded for certain occupations at risk of exposure to faeces or involved in food preparation:
Additionally, the vaccine is recommended for:
No special considerations, store as per cold chain between 2°C to 8°C.
Havrix is given as a single dose of vaccine administered by intramuscular injection for children and adults. A second vaccination 6-12 months later acts as a booster vaccination to extend the duration of protection.
It can be administered concurrently with other vaccines, including all the National Immunisation Schedule vaccines. Separate syringes and different injection sites should be used.
The vaccine can be administered at the same visit, using a different injection site, as immunoglobulin (Ig) for persons requiring hepatitis A vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis.
Persons having haemodialysis or who are immune suppressed may need additional vaccine doses to develop protection against the disease.
The vaccine can be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding women at high risk of the disease e.g. travelling to a hepatitis A endemic area or a close contact of a hepatitis A case.
Havrix has not been clinically designed for administration subcutaneously in persons at risk of haemorrhage following intramuscular injections. The alternative vaccine Avaxim, can be administered subcutaneously.
A serology result of ≥20 mIU/mL is considered to demonstrate immunity to hepatitis A.
Immunisation against hepatitis A protects 9-10 out of 10 people against the disease. Clinical trials indicated that after the second dose, protection lasts for at least 17 years, possibly up to 30-40 years. A recent review concluded that protective antibody levels to hepatitis A could be present for at least 25 year in adults and at least 14-20 years in children following a two dose course of vaccine.
In clinical trials, 15 days after vaccination 88% of healthy vaccine recipients aged 16–50 years and 93% aged 1–16 years were protected against hepatitis A. One month after vaccination 99% of healthy recipients aged 1—50 years were protected against the disease.