Prevention of hepatitis A Infection: ACIP updated recommendations

The United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated recommendations for the prevention of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. The new recommendations have been published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. According to the ACIP postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) with hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine or immune globulin (IG) prevents infection with hepatitis A virus when administered within 2 weeks of exposure.

As per the guidelines, hepatitis A vaccine for postexposure prophylaxis provides advantages over IG, including induction of active immunity, longer duration of protection, ease of administration and greater acceptability and availability.

Key Recommendations-

1. Hepatitis A vaccine is now recommended for persons aged ≥12 months who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus within the past 14 days and have not previously completed the 2-dose Hepatitis A vaccine series. These persons should receive a single dose of Hepatitis A vaccine.


2. Persons who are immunocompromised or have chronic liver disease and who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus within the past 14 days and have not previously completed the 2-dose Hepatitis A vaccination series should receive both IG (0.1 mL/kg) and Hepatitis A vaccine simultaneously in a different anatomic site at the earliest post-exposure.


3. Infants aged <12 months and persons for whom vaccine is contraindicated should be administered IG (0.1 mL/kg) instead of the vaccine, as soon as possible and within 2 weeks of exposure.


4. Preexposure prophylaxis with hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for infant travellers aged 6 to 11 months.


5. Homelessness is now a new indication for HAV vaccination, given the recent increase in infection rates in this group.

In infants scheduled to receive their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the vaccine should be administered preferentially to the hepatitis A vaccine; the MMR vaccine should not be administered earlier than 3 months after the immune globulin for hepatitis A.

The implication for Public Health practice is that HepA vaccine for PEP provides advantages over IG, including induction of active immunity, longer duration of protection, ease of administration, and greater acceptability and availability.

For further reference log on to

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6743a5.htm