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Several vaccines for hepatitis A are available in the United States, including several combination vaccines. It has been part of the routine childhood immunization schedule since 1994.  Hepatitis vaccination is recommended at age 1, with a booster shot several months later. The vaccine contains no live virus and is safe even for people with reduced immune function.

In early 1995, FDA issued the first license for a vaccine to prevent Hepatitis A in adults and children.  The highly contagious disease affected 150,000 Americans annually, usually via contaminated food or water, raw or undercooked shellfish source from contaminated waters, or through a close contact with an infected person.

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