Hepatitis A & B Free Vaccine Program
About Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.
How Hepatitis A spreads
It is easily transmitted from person to person through contact with the feces of infected persons. Infections from fecal-oral spread can occur by:
- eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated
- direct person-to-person contact, including oral-anal sexual contact
- contact with a contaminated environment
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually develop 28 - 30 days after exposure to the virus, although this period can range from 15 - 50 days. Initial symptoms of hepatitis A can include:
- fever
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- abdominal discomfort
- signs of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye)
Hepatitis A can be asymptomatic, especially among children younger than 6 years of age.
Hepatitis A vaccination
The hepatitis A vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario for:
- men who have sex with men
- people who use intravenous drugs
- people with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and C
The hepatitis A vaccine should be considered for other high-risk groups including:
- those who use non-injectable illicit drugs
- individuals living in communities at high risk for hepatitis A outbreaks
- travellers to endemic countries
Hepatitis A prevention
Good hygiene practices, like washing hands after using the bathroom, after changing diapers and before preparing food, can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
About Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. There are around 150 new cases of hepatitis B reported each year in Ontario.
There is no treatment. Most people get well, but about 10% will carry the virus for life and keep infecting other people. Some people will continue to have liver problems for the rest of their lives. Serious liver disease from hepatitis B virus can lead to liver cancer and even death.
How Hepatitis B spreads
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. In Canada, it is mainly spread through unprotected sexual contact.
It can also be spread through:
- body/ear piercing or tattooing with infected equipment
- sharing used needles
- an infected mother to her child at birth
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Symptoms of hepatitis B include:
- tiredness
- fever
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- pale greyish stools or very dark urine
- signs of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye)
Hepatitis B vaccination
The hepatitis B vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario for grade 7 students.
It is also covered for those with the following conditions or situations:
- children 7 years and under whose families have immigrated from countries of high prevalence for HBV and who may be exposed to HBV carriers through their extended families
- infants born to HBV-positive carrier mothers
- household and sexual contacts of chronic carriers and acute cases
- history of a sexually transmitted disease
- intravenous drug use
- liver disease (chronic), including hepatitis C
- awaiting liver transplants
- men who have sex with men
- multiple sex partners
- needle stick injuries in a non-health care setting
- on renal dialysis or those with diseases requiring frequent receipt of blood products (e.g., haemophilia)