Havrix Vaccine: Inactivated Hepatitis A vaccine

Havrix Vaccine

Havrix vaccine is used to prevent the Hepatitis A disease. It is vaccine by GSK pharma. It is inactivated Hepatitis A vaccine.

This vaccine is available in adult and pediatric dosages. Pediatric dosage 0.5 ml contains Hepatitis A virus antigen (HAV) 720 ELISA units and hydrated alumunium oxide as adjuvant. Adult dose is 1 ml contains Hepatitis A virus antigen 1440 ELISA units hydrated aluminium oxide as adjuvant.

How is Havrix vaccine available?

This vaccine is available as injection liquid form. It is available as 0.5 ml dose or 1 ml dose. It is available as pre filled syringe. It is available in single dose form. It is packed in opaque box to protect from sunlight.

How is Havrix vaccine stored?

Havrix vaccine is stored at 2-8 degree Celsius. The temperature range should be maintained with the help of cold chain. The temperature range should be maintained at all levels of transport and storage. The vaccine should not be frozen. If the vaccine is frozen accidentally it should be discarded and not used for the injection.

How is Havrix vaccine given?

Havrix vaccine is given as injection on the antero lateral aspect of thigh in children with needle as intramuscular route. All the safe injection precautions should be followed while giving injection. The disposables should be discarded as per biomedical waste management protocols. The vaccine that has passed expiry should be discarded as per biomedical waste management protocol rules. Gor those above 18 years 1 ml dose is given. For those below 18 years 0.5 ml dose is needed.

For those who have bleeding disorder this vaccine can be administered subcutaneously and firm pressure is given after the vaccination. The vaccination should be preferably planned after getting the dose of clotting factor in haemophilliacs.

At what age Havrix vaccine is given?

Havrix vaccine is given in routine immunization at age 13 months and second dose is given 6 months apart. If some one has missed the dose it should be given. For those above 10 years it is better to do serum HAV antibody test to see whether person has got natural asymptomatic infection before and got protected from the disease. Those adolescents and adults from developed countries who are going to visit countries which are endemic for Hepatitis A should get vaccine before travel.

Safety with other vaccine:

This vaccine is safe with most other medicine and no drug interactions were noted. The other vaccine or other drug should not be mixed in same syringe as this vaccine.

Like other inactivated vaccines this vaccine is considered as safe in pregnant and lactating woman, but the risk benefit ratio should be evaluated by the caregiver.

Concomitant administration of typhoid, tetanus and yellow fever vaccine is safe with Havrix vaccine.

Concomitant administration of Havrix and serum immunoglobulins does not alter the protective effect of Havrix vaccine.

What are side effects of Havrix vaccine?

Havrix vaccine causes side effect that are generally milder and can be managed at home and does not need hospital admission:

  • Fever is common side effect after the vaccination. It usually subsides in 1-3 days and can be managed very easily at home with medicine like paracetamol and sponging.
  • Swelling and pain occurs at injection site may last for 1-3 days can be managed with paracetamol and local cold compression.
  • Diarhea and loss of appetite can occur after vaccination and can be managed by oral rehydrating solution.
  • Nausea and vomiting may occur after the vaccination and it can be managed by oral syp ondansetron and oral rehydrating solution.
  • Muscular pain and joint pain.
  • Headache and fatigue.
  • Anaphylaxis and allergy is extremely rare side effect of the vaccine. Like other vaccines the vaccine should be administered at center where necessary personnel and drugs and equipments are available to manage if any reaction occurs.

BENEFITS OF HAVRIX VACCINE

Havrix vaccine is inactivated Hepatitis A virus vaccine.
There were many queries to us about benefits of Havrix vaccine.

Here we will discuss about the benefits of Havrix vaccine in details.

As we have seen before that Havrix is a vaccine that is used to prevent Hepatitis A disease. It has following benefits.

  • · Protection.
  • · Pain.
  • · Lesser side effects.
  • · Availability.
  • · Trusted brand.
  • · Safety.
  • · Cost.

Protection

In terms of providing protection Havrix vaccine is excellent. It protects children from Hepatitis A disease.

It is found to produce adequate level of antibodies which provide the immunity against all these diseases. These are some of the major illness that can be life threatening in children less than 5 year old.

Given as per schedule Havrix vaccine is excellent in efficacy.

Monovalent

Being a monovalent vaccine it provides protection against one disease in one injection shot.

There is no need to take the vaccine for each disease separately.

This greatly reduces the pain of getting disease and its complications to children and increases compliance with the vaccination.

Pain

As Havrix vaccine contains the inactiavted Hepatitis A virus component it is less painful the pain can usually be managed at home.

Lesser side effects

Also with Havrix vaccine the other common side effects like local redness and swelling, fever, irritability and decreased appetite are lesser.

Lesser the side effects more is the compliance with the vaccination. It disturbs the parents’ and infants’ daily schedule to minimal.

Availability

Both the Havrix vaccine is available worldwide in many countries in private set up. It is easily available everywhere. You just need to contact your pediatrician for the appointment.

Trusted brand

Havrix vaccine is produced by the GSK vaccines. It is trusted brand of vaccines for many years in fact decades.

They have that expertise to make the safe and effective vaccinations and providing it worldwide every possible precaution like maintaining the cold chain.

Safety

Havrix vaccine has been in used for years now.

There is sufficient data about reactions and also interactions with other vaccine. All the data over the years indicates the vaccine is safe as well as effective in nearly all children.

The severe life threatening reactions like anaphylaxis are extremely rare to occur in case of Havrix vaccine.

Cost

Havrix vaccine is available at reasonable cost.

Their cost may be higher than other vaccines but that is justified provided it is very safe and effective vaccine that protects against a major disease Hepatitis A and also it is not so painful with lesser side effects.

So here we have tried to explain the benefits of Havrix vaccine in details.




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