Who should receive hepatitis A vaccine?

Vaccination News Home Page Scandals subscribe Vaccination NewsLetter

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00422.x/abs/

Abstract

Download to reference manager

Journal of Viral Hepatitis
Volume 10 Issue 3 Page 157 - May 2003

REVIEW

Who should receive hepatitis A vaccine?

V. A. Arankalle and M. S. Chadha

Summary. Though a potent vaccine represents a powerful preventive tool, the policy of its use is governed by epidemiological and economical factors. Hepatitis A, an enterically trasmitted disease shows distinct association with socio-economic status, populations with improvement experiencing lower exposure to the virus. With the availability of vaccine, it is pertinent to consider its use in the effective control of the disease. However, with the varied epidemiological patterns and economical constraints in different countries it does not seem to be possible to evolve universal policy for immunization. Though, universal immunization may be the most effective way of control, the same is not practical for many countries. It is proposed that irrespective of endemicity of hepatitis A, high-risk groups such as travelers to endemic areas, patients suffering from chronic liver diseases, HBV and HCV carriers, tribal communities with high HBV carrier rates, food handlers, sewage workers, recipients of blood products, troops, and children from day-care centers should be immunized with hepatitis A vaccine. In addition, for populations with intermediate prevalence, infants, children from affordable families may be immunized. As coupling the vaccine with EPI schedule would be beneficial, use of combined A & B or A, B & E vaccine may be an attractive alternative.

Received November 2002; accepted for publication January 2003

Affiliations

Hepatitis Division, National Institute of Virology, Pune, India

Correspondence

Correspondence: V. A. Arankalle, Hepatitis Division, National Institute of Virology, 20-A, Dr Ambedkar road, Pune, India - 411001. E-mail: aarankalle@hotmail.com

To cite this article

Arankalle, V. A. & Chadha, M. S.

Who should receive hepatitis A vaccine?.

Journal of Viral Hepatitis 10 (3), 157-158.

doi: 10.1046/

j.1365-2893.2003.00422.x

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.