Immunisation against hepatitis A is recommended if you are travelling to countries where the virus is common, such as the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Central and South America, the Far East, and Eastern Europe. Your GP surgery will be able to provide you with free vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, meningitis C, tetanus and polio. Travel health clinics can also provide these vaccinations, but there may be a small charge.
A blood test will show whether you are already immune to the hepatitis A virus, due to previous infection. Otherwise, you should have one injection 4-6 weeks before you travel and a booster dose 6-12 months later. Protection against hepatitis A begins two weeks after the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine. An initial vaccination plus booster dose is believed to give protection for over 10 years.
If you have been in close contact with an infected person or if you do not have time for the immunisation before you travel, you can get short-term protection (lasting 3-6 months) from an injection of antibodies called immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin must be given within 2 weeks after exposure to hepatitis A virus for maximum protection.
An important prevention against hepatitis A is practising good personal hygiene. Simply washing your hands well and frequently can help protect you against a number of infections, viruses and bacteria. It is essential to wash your hands after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. Extra precautions include not sharing towels, eating utensils, or toothbrushes.
