Hepatitis A virus is responsible for the highly contagious liver infection hepatitis A. This is just one of the hepatitis viruses that cause the liver to be inflamed and affects its functionality. Hepatitis A can be acquired from close contact with an infected person, or consuming contaminated food or water. If the infection is mild, you can recover without medication and with no permanent liver damage. Good hygiene like frequent washing of hands is among the best ways of protecting yourself from hepatitis A. People who are at high risk of getting hepatitis A can get vaccinated but hep A vaccine side effects must be kept in mind.
Hepatitis A Vaccine Side Effects in Adult
Hepatitis A vaccine might cause some side effects as it delivers its needed benefits. You might not experience all the side effects.
Consult Your Doctor if You Experience the Following Side Effects
1. Common Ones
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- General feeling of illness or discomfort
- If your fever is higher than 99.5°F
2. Rare Ones
Wheezing |
Loss of voice |
Voice changes |
Itching, particularly hands and feet |
Unusual weakness or tiredness (severe and sudden) |
Tender, painful or swollen lymph glands in the groin, armpit and neck |
Chest feeling tight |
Hives |
Swollen tender glands in the neck |
Swelling of the face, eyes or inside the nose |
Hoarseness |
Ear congestion |
Sore throat or headache |
Soreness or dryness of the throat |
Sneezing |
Difficulty with swallowing and breathing |
Shortness of breath |
Cough |
Runny nose |
Pain or body aches |
Skin turning red, particularly around the ears |
Chills |
Nasal congestion |
Chest congestion |
3. Incidence Not Known
Confusion |
Shakiness and unsteady walk |
Yellow skin or eyes |
Pins and needles sensation |
Vomiting blood |
Seizures |
Trembling, unsteadiness or other issues with muscle coordination or control |
Sores, white spots and ulcers in the mouth or lips |
Unpleasant breath |
Rash |
Swollen lymph glands |
Pinpoint red spots on the skin |
Swelling or puffiness around the eyes or eyelids, lips, face or tongue |
Sudden numbness and weakness in legs and arms |
Nausea |
Muscle cramps or aches |
Stiff neck |
Loss of appetite |
Stabbing pain |
Dark urine |
Irritated, red eyes |
Muscle or joint pain |
Slurred speech |
Increased sweating |
Blood in stool or urine |
Inability to move legs and arms |
Loosening, peeling or blistering of the skin |
Hallucinations |
Bleeding gums |
Forgetfulness |
Tarry black stools |
Flu-like symptoms |
Back pain |
Feeling depressed or sad |
Agitation |
Discomfort |
Stomach or abdominal pain |
Fast heartbeat |
Dizziness |
Fainting or Coma |
Difficulty with walking |
Drowsiness |
Difficulty controlling bowels and bladder |
Blurred vision |
Diarrhea |
Clay-colored stool |
Large, hive-like swelling on sex organs, lips, feet, legs, hands, throat, tongue, eyelids or face |
Pins and needles, prickling, numbness, itching, crawling, burning or tingling sensation in legs, feet, arms or hands |
Temporary Hepatitis A Vaccine Side Effects
There are other Hep A vaccine side effects that do not need medical attention. They will fade as treatment continues but your doctor might tell you ways to reduce or prevent these side effects.
1. More Common Ones
It may include weight loss, pain, lumps, warmth or tenderness, swelling or redness at the site of the injection.
2. Less Common Ones
It may include unusual stopping of menstrual periods, change in pattern of monthly bleeding, loss or lack of strength, bleeding between periods, arm pain, etc.
3. Rare Ones
Welts |
Excessive muscle tone |
Inability to sleep |
Lightheadedness or dizziness |
Trouble sleeping |
Difficulty moving |
Sleeplessness |
Difficulty with night vision |
Spinning sensation |
Dark purple bruises |
Muscle tightness or tension |
Blood collection under the skin |
Loss of taste |
Change in taste |
Eyes increase sensitivity to the sun |
Change in color vision |
Constant feeling of movement of surroundings or self |
4. Incidence Not Known
Hives |
Rash |
Feeling of pressure |
Pain |
Skin discoloration |
Numbness |
Coldness |
Lumps |
Burning |
Itching |
Blistering |
Inflammation |
Bleeding |
Infection |
Stinging |
Swelling |
Soreness |
Warmth at injection site |
Scarring |
Ulceration |
Redness |
Tingling |
Unusual drowsiness or sleepiness |
Tenderness |
Hepatitis A Vaccine Side Effects in Children
You should make sure to report any hep A vaccine side effects your child previously experienced before getting another shot. The following are some of the side effects of hep A on children and do know that this is just a general list, not a complete list.
1. Get emergency medical attention if your child shows the following signs of an allergic reaction:
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of throat, face, tongue or lips
2. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following serious side effects:
- Fainting or extreme drowsiness
- Irritability, mild fussiness or crying for an hour or more
- Seizure (convulsions or black-out)
- High fever after a few hours or days after the vaccine
3. Less serious hep A vaccine side effects include:
- Redness, swelling or hard lump at the injection site
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Joint pain
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting and nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Tired feeling, dizziness
- Mild crying or fussiness
- Mild fever
Watch the video below to know what hepatitis A is, how one get it, when to get the vaccine: