Vaqta Pediatrics

Vaqta Pediatrics

Vaqta Pediatrics

What is Vaqta Pediatric?

The Vaqta Pediatric is used to prevent this disease in children.

This vaccine exposes your child to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine does not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Vaccination with Vaqta Pediatric is recommended for all children aged 12 months and over. This vaccine is also recommended for children traveling to certain regions of the world where hepatitis A is a common disease.

Like any vaccine, Vaqta Pediatric may not protect against disease in everyone.

Side effects of Vaqta in children

Get emergency medical help if your child is affectedSigns of an allergic reaction:hives; difficulty breathing; Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your child should not receive a booster shot if they had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep an eye on any side effects your child experiences after vaccination. If the child receives a booster vaccination, you must tell the doctor whether the previous vaccination caused any side effects.

Call your child's doctor immediately if the child has:

• extreme drowsiness, fainting;

• excitement, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;

• a seizure; or

• high fever (within a few hours or days after vaccination).

Common side effects of Vaqta Pediatric may include:

• Fever;

• irritability, sleepiness;

• loss of appetite;

• Headache; or

• Swelling, tenderness, redness, or warmth at the injection site.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report vaccine side effects to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines or have any other medical conditions or allergies.

Before you take this medicine

The hepatitis A vaccine does not protect against infection with hepatitis B, C, and E or other viruses that affect the liver. It also may not protect against hepatitis A if your child is already infected with the virus, even if he or she doesn't show any symptoms.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a hepatitis A vaccine or if the child is allergic to neomycin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an allergy to latex rubber; or

• a weak immune system (caused by an illness or taking certain medications).

Vaqta Pediatric is not approved for use by people younger than 12 months.

How is this vaccine administered?

This vaccine is given as an injection (syringe) into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic.

Your child will receive one vaccination from Vaqta Pediatric and a booster vaccination 6 to 18 months later.

Your child's individual booster plan may differ from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

To prevent hepatitis A while traveling, the child should receive this vaccine at least 2 weeks before the trip. Your child's doctor will determine the best dosing schedule for your situation.

Your child's doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with a non-aspirin pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label instructions or doctor's instructions about how much Vaqta Pediatric to use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if your child misses or is late for a booster dose. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Make sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine, otherwise the child may not be fully protected from disease.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely.

What should I avoid before or after vaccination?

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding any food, drink, or activity restrictions.

What other medicines will affect Vaqta Pediatric?

Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about any other vaccinations your child has recently received.

Also tell your doctor if your child has recently received any medications or treatments that may weaken the immune system, including:

• steroid medicine;

• cancer treatments;

• medicines used to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases; or

• Medicines used to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection.

If your child is taking any of these medications, he or she may not be able to be vaccinated or may have to wait until the other treatments are completed.

This list is not complete. Other medicines may affect Vaqta Pediatric, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

More information

Remember to keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the prescribed indication.