WHO position paper on hepatitis A vaccines – October 2022

Overview

This guidance document replaces the 2012 WHO position paper on hepatitis A vaccines.

Since the publication of the first WHO hepatitis A vaccine position paper in 2000, and the updated paper in 2012, there have been changes in the epidemiological features of hepatitis A virus infection in several countries, increased supply and use of hepatitis A vaccines, and new evidence on their public health benefits and potential for long-term protection.

The updated 2022 systematic evidence reviewfocuses specifically on longer-term (3–7 years, and more than 7 years) follow-up studies, including data on efficacy, effectiveness and safety of multidose and single dose regimens of inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines in children, and adults vaccinated during childhood. The evidence generated from the 2012 systematic review was also considered.

Recommendations on the use of hepatitis A vaccines were issued by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization at its meeting in April 2022 endorsed by WHO thereafter.

Other language versions area available here.