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Registered Yellow Fever Centre, Cambridge
Hepatitis A is a liver infection that travellers can pick up from contaminated food or water. It is one of the most common vaccine-preventable infections linked to travel, and the vaccine is simple: a single injection gives protection for a trip, and a second dose later gives long-lasting cover. You can book an appointment at Cambridge Travel Clinic to check whether it is recommended for your itinerary.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that affects the liver. It is usually spread through food or water contaminated by human faeces, and it can also pass directly from an infected person. Young children often have mild symptoms or none at all, but the illness tends to be more serious with age. Adults can be unwell for weeks, with tiredness, nausea, stomach pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Which destinations carry a risk?
The risk is highest in countries with poorer sanitation and food hygiene. TravelHealthPro and the Green Book name areas including:
Sub-Saharan and North Africa, for example Kenya, Egypt and Morocco
South East Asia and parts of the Far East, including Thailand and Vietnam
South and Central America
Vaccination isn’t generally needed for Northern or Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand. Recommendations depend on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, so we’ll check the latest advice for your specific trip.
Who is at higher risk?
People visiting friends and relatives and staying with local families
Frequent or long-stay travellers to places with poor sanitation
People with chronic liver disease or haemophilia
Men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and some people exposed through their work
The vaccine schedule
The hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, given as an injection in the upper arm. It is licensed from 1 year of age.
First dose: a single dose protects you for up to 12 months. Ideally have it at least 2 weeks before you travel, although it can be given up to the day of departure
Second dose: given 6 to 12 months after the first. This gives protection for at least 25 years
Late second dose: if you miss the window, you don’t need to restart. The second dose still works even if it is several years late
Further boosters: generally not needed, except for people at ongoing risk
So if you have a trip coming up soon, it is still worth getting vaccinated. Last-minute appointments are very common for hepatitis A.
Combined vaccines
Hepatitis A is also available combined with typhoid, or combined with hepatitis B. These can mean fewer injections if you need more than one. You can read about these on our typhoid vaccine and hepatitis A and B vaccine pages. The pharmacist will help you choose what suits your itinerary.
Who should check with us first
Because it is not a live vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine can be given to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding when the risk of infection makes it worthwhile. People with a weakened immune system can also have it, although they may respond less well and might need extra doses or specialist advice. Babies under 1 year aren’t vaccinated, so for them careful food and water hygiene is the main protection. Tell us at your consultation about any health conditions or medicines.
Food and water advice
The vaccine is very effective, but good hygiene also protects you against other infections such as typhoid and travellers’ diarrhoea. TravelHealthPro advises:
Wash your hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food. Alcohol gel helps when there’s nowhere to wash
In areas with poor sanitation, avoid tap water, including for brushing teeth, unless it has been treated. Boiling water is a reliable method
Choose sealed bottled or canned drinks, or hot tea and coffee made with boiled water, and avoid ice
Eat food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot, and fruit you peel yourself
Avoid salads, raw shellfish, undercooked meat and fish, and unpasteurised dairy
Be wary of buffet food left out in the heat. Street food is safer when it is cooked in front of you and served hot
Book your hepatitis A vaccine in Cambridge
Hepatitis A is often part of a wider travel consultation, where we look at every vaccine you might need. Our fees are on the pricing page, and you can browse advice by region on our destinations pages.
Every appointment is with one of our pharmacists. We check your whole itinerary against current UK guidance and go through every vaccine and travel medicine you might need in one visit.
We have two branches, and both are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Petersfield Pharmacy, 56 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AS (01223 354383), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Book at Mill Road online. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Waterbeach Pharmacy, 5 Greenside, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9HW (01223 564422), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 1:30pm to 5:45pm. Book at Waterbeach online.
We see travellers from Cambridge, Cherry Hinton, Trumpington, Chesterton, Histon, Milton, Cottenham, Waterbeach and nearby villages. We’re happy to talk through your plans, however close your departure.