Next-day appointments available
Book an appointment at one of our branches for next-day service.
About hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The disease is generally mild, but the severity tends to increase with age. The asymptomatic illness is common in children. Jaundice may occur in 70–80% of those infected as adults.
Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease becomes more severe with age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A illness, immunity is lifelong.
How can you get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that spreads in poo, and some travellers are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A. You can get hepatitis A from:
drinking unclean water
eating food that's been washed or grown in unclean water
eating food that's been handled by an infected person
close physical contact with an infected person, including having sex and sharing needles to take drugs
staying with or visiting the local population
travelling to areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor
being exposed to the virus through work
going to areas of hepatitis A outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care
Available service options
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, email our customer care team or chat with us.
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Hepatitis A Vaccine - Single Dose
£65 per patient
This service option is for individuals aged 16 years and over. You will require two doses to complete the full course to be fully protected.
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Hepatitis A Vaccine - Complete Course
£120 per patient
You will require two doses to complete the full course to be fully protected. This service option is for individuals aged 16 years and over.
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Combined Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B - Single Dose
£85 per patient
Our combined vaccine offers protection from hepatitis A and hepatitis B in one single injection. You will require three doses to complete the full course to be fully protected.
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Combined Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B - Complete Course
£247.50 per patient
Our combined vaccine offers protection from hepatitis A and hepatitis B in one single injection.
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Hepatitis A Vaccine (Paediatric) - Single Dose
£55 per patient
You will require two doses to complete the full course to be fully protected. This service option is for individuals aged between 1 and 15 years old.
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Hepatitis A Vaccine (Paediatric) - Complete Course
£100 per patient
This service option is for individuals aged between 1 and 15 years old. You will require two doses to complete the full course to be fully protected.
Prefer to book this service over the phone?
Call us on 0113 322 9984
Number of doses required and when to boost
Number of doses | When to boost |
|---|---|
Two dose schedule of hepatitis A vaccine should be given at day 0 and then 6 to 12 months after the initial dose, but in late-presenting travellers, a course does not need to be restarted. | Protection is expected for 25 years from the second dose, and a further booster is generally not needed except for those at ongoing risk. |
Not sure what service option you need?
If you are unsure which vaccines you need for your holiday, why not take advantage of our travel health advice service? This service includes a personalised telephone consultation to determine your travel health requirements, including vaccination, altitude sickness, jet lag, period delay, travellers' diarrhoea and antimalarials.
High risk areas for hepatitis A
Areas with high levels of infection include low-income countries that may have relatively poor sanitary conditions and hygiene practices. These areas include:
The Indian subcontinent
Sub-Saharan and North Africa
Parts of the Far East
South and Central America
The Middle East
What our customers think
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Thank you so much you did great would recommend to anyone.keep up the good professional work.
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Excellent service definitely would recommend, managed to get me appointment same day young lady was so professional in explaining and carrying out the treatment, feeling much better now, thank you.
Lee Robertshaw
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent service received at Midway pharmacy Middleton Leeds yesterday both ears were totally blocked and the young girl that performed the syringing was friendly and explained what was happening clearly and efficiently all done in 10 minutes can hear again now fantastic!
Jane Cooper
Frequently asked questions
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, email our customer care team or chat with us.
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How is hepatitis A transmitted?
The hepatitis A virus is usually ingested via contaminated food or water and is endemic to countries with insufficient sanitation systems and poor access to clean food and water. It can spread rapidly and is known to cause sudden epidemics.
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Do I need a booster for the hepatitis A vaccine?
Once you have completed the course of two doses, protection is expected for 25 years from the second dose then a further booster is generally not needed except for those at ongoing risk.
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What are the side effects of the hepatitis A vaccine?
Some people develop temporary soreness, redness and hardening of the skin at the injection site after having the hepatitis A vaccine. A small, painless lump may also form, but this usually disappears quickly and isn't a cause for concern.
Less common side effects include:
a slightly raised temperature
feeling unwell
tiredness
headache
feeling sick
loss of appetite
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How do I reduce the risk of hepatitis A?
You can help prevent hepatitis A when travelling by:
washing your hands thoroughly before preparing and eating food
drinking bottled water
avoiding eating shellfish and uncooked fruit and vegetables
using a condom or dam when having sex
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What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?
Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include:
a high temperature
flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headache, and muscle pains
feeling sick or being sick
pain in your upper tummy
loss of appetite
diarrhoea or constipation
pale yellow or pale grey poo
dark brown pee
itchy skin – you may also have a raised rash (hives)
yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Most children, and some adults, may have mild symptoms or no symptoms.
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Is the hepatitis A vaccine free for healthcare workers?
Your employer should organise your vaccination if your job puts you at risk.
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How do I prevent hepatitis A?
Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A. However, Hepatitis A vaccines are not routinely offered in the UK because the risk of getting infected is low.
You need to get a vaccine if you are at high risk of catching or getting seriously ill from hepatitis A. For example:
you are travelling to a country where hepatitis A is common – you may need to pay for a hepatitis A vaccine for travel
you have recently been in close physical contact with someone with hepatitis A
you have long-term liver disease
you have a blood clotting disorder, such as some people with haemophilia
you are a man who has sex with men
your job puts you at risk of infection – for example, you’re a healthcare worker or a sewage worker
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Are next-day appointments available?
Yes, you can get next-day appointments at all our branches. Contact our customer care team if you cannot find an available slot.
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How can I ease the symptoms of hepatitis A?
There are some things you can do when you have hepatitis A to help ease the symptoms and to stop infecting others.
Do
Don't
Limit contact with other people for 7 days after your symptoms started or seven days after jaundice started (adults should stay off work, and children should stay off from school or nursery)
Do not drink alcohol
Rest and drink plenty of fluids
Do not prepare food or drink for others
Take painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol - ask your doctor for advice on how much paracetamol you should take because you may not be able to take a normal dose
Do not have sex without a condom or dam until you're no longer infectious
Keep your room well-ventilated, wear loose-fitting clothing, and avoid hot baths and showers if you feel itchy
Do not share needles with others
Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet
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Where is this service available?
This service is available in our branches, which are commutable from anywhere in Yorkshire, including Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, York, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Barnsley, Hull, Doncaster, Ripon, Harrogate, Dewsbury, Keighley and Scarborough.
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Is the hepatitis A vaccine available on the NHS?
The hepatitis A vaccine is usually available for free on the NHS for anyone who needs it.
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Next-day appointments are available at our branches.