Havrix junior monodose

How does it work?

Havrix junior monodose is a hepatitis A vaccine that contains inactivated hepatitis A virus. It works by provoking the body's immune response, without causing the disease.

When the body is exposed to foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, the immune system produces antibodies against them. Antibodies help the body recognise and kill the foreign organisms. The antibodies remain in the body to help protect the body against future infections with the same organism. This is known as active immunity.

The immune system produces different antibodies for each foreign organism it encounters. This establishes a pool of antibodies that helps protect the body from various different diseases.

Vaccines contain extracts or inactivated forms of bacteria or viruses that cause disease. These altered forms of the organisms stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against them, but don't actually cause disease themselves. The antibodies produced remain in the body so that if the organism is encountered naturally, the immune system can recognise it and attack it. This prevents it from causing disease.

Each bacteria or virus stimulates the immune system to produce a specific type of antibody, and this means that different vaccines are needed to prevent different diseases.

The hepatitis A vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against the hepatitis A virus and therefore prevents hepatitis A.

This vaccine is not given routinely. It is recommended for children who are at high risk of contracting hepatitis A, such as travellers to high risk areas; children with haemophilia treated with plasma-derived clotting factors; children with severe liver disease; residents of homes for those with severe learning difficulties and intravenous drug abusers. The vaccine may also be considered for close contacts of people with hepatitis A and children with chronic liver disease.

The vaccine is given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm. Protection against hepatitis A does not occur immediately following vaccination with Havrix junior monodose, but 93 per cent of children will have protective levels of antibodies after two weeks and 99 per cent of children will be protected after four weeks.

Some vaccines remain effective for a lifetime, while others have to be updated after a few months or years. Havrix junior monodose should provide continuing protection against hepatitis A for at least a year after the first dose. To provide continued long-term protection, a second 'booster' dose should be given, preferably between 6 and 12 months after the first vaccination, but it may be given up to 36 months after the first vaccination. The manufacturer predicts that the booster will produce immunity for at least 10 years.

What is it used for?

Vaccination against hepatitis A in children aged 1 to 15 years.

Warning!

This vaccine does not provide protection against infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis E virus or other organisms that can infect the liver.

Children with kidney failure who are receiving haemodialysis may not produce an adequate immune response to this vaccine and additional doses may be needed. The same applies to children whose immune system is underactive, for example due to a genetic defect, HIV infection, or treatment with medicines that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy, high doses of corticosteroids, or medicines to prevent transplant rejection. For further advice talk to your doctor.

Use with caution in

Liver disease

Children at risk of bleeding following an injection into the muscle, eg children with haemophilia or low levels of platelets in their blood (thrombocytopenia) - these children may be be given the injection under the skin rather than into the muscle.

Not to be used in

Babies under one year of age

Allergy to neomycin or other components of the vaccine

Sudden feverish illness.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The effect of this vaccine on a developing baby has not been studied. However, as it contains inactivated virus it is not expected to cause any harm to the developing baby. The manufacturer states that it should only be used in pregnancy if there is a high risk of hepatitis A infection. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

The effect of this vaccine during breastfeeding has not been studied. The manufacturer states that it is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding. However, based on the effects of other inactivated (non-infectious) viral vaccines given during breastfeeding, there do not seem to be any reasons for not giving the vaccine to breastfeeding women who are at risk of hepatitis A. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Soreness, redness or hardening of the skin around the injection site

Headache

Fever (pyrexia)

General feeling of being unwell (malaise)

Fatigue

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Loss of appetite

Rash

Pain in the joints (arthralgia)

Pain in the muscles (myalgia)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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