Protect yourself from Hepatitis A while traveling

Immunization against hepatitis A is recommended for people who are going to go to any country, except:

• Australia


• Of Canada


• Of Japan


• New Zealand


• USA


• The countries of Western Europe and Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland).

You can consult a doctor about the need for vaccination. If you are going to a country with a low level of sanitation or where hepatitis A is common, before you get vaccinated against hepatitis A with any vaccine, immunoglobulin or combination vaccine against hepatitis A and B, consult your doctor. If you often go to a country with a low level of sanitation or stay there, you also run the risk of getting hepatitis B.

[caption id="attachment_793" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Hepatitis A[/caption]

Vaccination against hepatitis A is carried out by a series of vaccines resulting in the formation of immunity for 20 years. For adults (people over 18), it is best if the first injection is done at least 4 weeks before the proposed contact. But after the first injection with a vaccine, only short-term immunity is formed in the body. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for all children from 1 year. Immunization is carried out in two separate doses at intervals of 6 months. Repeated injection is done 6-18 months after the first dose of the vaccine.

If a person plans to stay for a long time in a country where hepatitis A is common, he is injected with a high-dose immunoglobulin (IG). Subsequently, every 3-5 months, it is necessary to re-inject the immunoglobulin (IG) of the same high dose.

Immunoglobulin is made from components of human blood. The risk of the occurrence of diseases transmitted through the blood, due to the introduction of the immunoglobulin produced in the US, no. The safety of immunoglobulin produced in other countries is not guaranteed.

When visiting countries where hepatitis A is common and staying there for less than 3 months, injecting an immunoglobulin will be enough. But if the trips abroad are scheduled regular, you should get vaccinated.

People who are allergic to the components of the hepatitis A vaccine and children under 1 year of age are immunized with immunoglobulin to protect against hepatitis A.

If you travel to places where hepatitis A is very common or water quality is questionable:

• Before drinking, boil water. Water should boil for at least 1 minute. If you are at an altitude of 6562 or higher, boil water for at least 3 minutes. Do not drink tap water or spring water or drinks with ice cubes.


• Do not use tap water or spring water when brushing your teeth.


• Make sure that the food is cooked in accordance with all standards, especially oysters.


• Eat raw only those fruits and vegetables that you yourself washed in clean water and cleaned.


• Do not swim in water that has not been treated with bleach.