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Hepatitis A Vaccine
in Streatham
Are you travelling to Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan? Visit Westbury Chemist in Streatham for your Hepatitis A vaccination appointment.
Book Hepatitis A Vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccination provides protection for one year. Thereafter you’ll need a booster dose of the hep A vaccine. After the booster, you will not need the booster for another 25 years.
Hepatitis A – Single Dose
The single-dose vaccination is a single injection. You need to take the Hep A vaccine two to three weeks before you travel.
Price Per Dose: £55.00
Hepatitis A – 2 Dose Full Course
5% discounts are available for full course Hep A vaccinations.
Two injections are needed for this 2-dose course. Take the first dose 2-3 weeks before travel. The second dose 6-12 months after travel for added protection.
Price Per Dose: £104.50
What is Hepatitis A?
An infection caused by hepatitis A can cause an infection in the liver as well as liver failure. Hepatitis viruses are spread through faeces (poo) from people who are infected. The risk of infection are higher for people who visit countries with poor sanitation or those who have sex with other men and inject drugs or share needles with others with infections.
Countries Where Hepatitis A is Common:
Hepatitis is a common disease across all countries of the world. Some countries have a higher risk and when you’re travelling to countries where people are exposed to hepatitis, it’s important to be vaccinated. Below is a list of countries where the virus can be found and contracted:
- Asia
- Africa
- South America
- Central America
- Russia
and more.
How can you get Hepatitis A?
In parts of the world where sanitation, food, and hygiene are poor, Hepatitis A is the most prevalent disease. Infections can be contracted in the following:
- The contamination comes from people who have not washed their hands properly or who have washed in sewage water
- Including ice cubes in contaminated drinking water
- Eating food from contaminated water that is raw or undercooked
- Hepatitis A people who work in close contact
- A lesser-common danger is spending time with someone who has hepatitis A or injecting drugs with contaminated equipment.
In the first two weeks after infection, people with Hepatitis A are at their most infectious. The symptoms usually appear before the infection becomes visible.
Detecting Hepatitis A With a Blood Test
Blood test for hepatitis is also known as a virus test. The test is there to distinguish whether you currently have the hepatitis A infection or have had it in the past. The Hep A blood test checks for antibodies that are created by the body in order to fight the hepatitis virus. Whether you’ve been infected in the past or have it now, it can be picked up from your blood test results.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
It is not immediately clear when people are infected by Hepatitis A. These symptoms take around 4 weeks to develop and it is not the case that everyone who has been infected by the hepatitis virus show symptoms either. It’s a silent creeper. But, if you think you have been infected by hepatitis A then a blood test will need to be conducted to rule out any possible serious symptoms.
Short-Term Symptoms
- Feeling tired and generally unwell
- Joint and Muscle pain
- A raised temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Being Sick
- A headache
- Pain in the upper right part of your tummy
- Constipation
- Itchy rash
Developing Symptoms:
- Jaundice (as seen in yellow fever)
- Dark urine
- Pale faeces
- Itchy Skin
- The swollen upper right part of the tummy
Serious Symptoms:
- Severe Vomiting
- Quickly bruise and bleed easily or have regular nosebleeds
- Irritation
- Memory problems and concentration
- Confusion
List Ref: NHS
Spreading and Transmission of HAV (Hepatitis A Virus)
Hepatitis is spread when people do not follow the practice of basic hygiene principles such as washing of the hands before preparing food or putting something in their mouth. Despite food looking clean, consuming something touched or in contact with a person who has hepatitis A can also affect you.
The hepatitis virus can also spread when drinking contaminated water and food that has been or cooked in the waters too.
Protection Against Hepatitis A
The best way to for disease control and prevention is that the Hepatitis A infection is to take the Hep A vaccine. At Westbury Chemist, we are offering a single dose for the vaccine which should be taken 2 weeks prior to travelling. If you are going for the full course vaccine, you will be required to take the first dose 2 weeks before you travel and between 6 to 12 months after your travel.
Incubation of the Hepatitis A Vaccine
The vaccine takes around 2 weeks after the first injection to start developing immunity to the virus. Unlike other vaccines such as yellow fever, boosters are required for hepatitis and are best to take the vaccine closer to the time you are travelling for full effect.
Hepatitis A Vaccination Side Effects
With all vaccines, there are side effects that some people may experience. For the hepatitis A vaccine, people may experience temporary redness and soreness at the site of the injection. The NHS mention that the vaccine can also have the following less common side effects too:
- Tiredness
- Raised temperature
- Feeling unwell
- Headache
- Feeling sick
- Loss of appetite
Liver Damage (Cirrhosis)
There are four kinds of hepatitis viruses. These are known as Hepatitis A, B, C and D. Unlike the rest, hepatitis A does not cause any long term or life-threatening damages to the liver. In fact, there are rare cases where Hep A can cause the failure of liver functions, more specifically in elderly people or those who already suffer from long-term liver disease.
NHS Hepatitis Vaccination Eligibility
If you have not had the vaccine before, you may be eligible for a free hepatitis A vaccination from your GP or travel clinic. To find out if you’re eligible, please contact your GP for your vaccination records. Booster vaccinations are available at Westbury Chemist for added protection for the next 25 years.
