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Resources and support for your pharmacy

Which of your patients are at increased risk of hepatitis A?

To help protect your appropriate patients from hepatitis A, learn how to identify the situational/environmental and behavioral categories that put adults at increased risk of infection or severe disease.1,2

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Merck is committed to providing the resources pharmacists need to help protect the people in their communities. Click the button below to find more pharmacy resources on the Merck Adult Vaccination Program website.

Learn more

A range of resources

VAQTA pharmacy card

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Pharmacy Locator

Our pharmacy locator allows physicians to easily locate those pharmacies offering vaccination in their area for their appropriate adult patients. You can sign up or verify that your pharmacy appears.

Pharmacy locator

References

  1. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2024. Accessed June 25, 2024. 
    https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
  2. Nelson NP, Weng MK, Hofmeister MG, et al. Prevention of Hepatitis A Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2020. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020;69(No. RR-5):1–38. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6905a

Indication for VAQTA®(Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)

VAQTA® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) is indicated for the prevention of disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in persons 12 months of age and older. The primary dose should be given at least 2 weeks prior to expected exposure to HAV.

 

Dosage and Administration for VAQTA

Adults (19 years of age and older): The vaccination schedule consists of a primary 1 mL dose administered intramuscularly and a 1 mL booster dose administered intramuscularly 6 to 18 months later.

 

Booster Immunization Following Another Manufacturer’s Hepatitis A Vaccine: A booster dose of VAQTA may be given at 6 to 12 months following a primary dose of Havrix*.

 

*Havrix is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

Select Safety Information for VAQTA®(Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)

Do not administer VAQTA to individuals with a history of immediate and/or severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any hepatitis A vaccine, or to individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction to any component of VAQTA, including neomycin.

 

The vial stopper and the syringe plunger stopper and tip cap contain dry natural latex rubber that may cause allergic reactions in latex-sensitive individuals.

 

The most common local adverse reactions and systemic adverse events (≥15%) reported in different clinical trials across different age groups when VAQTA was administered alone or concomitantly were:

 

  • Adults 19 years of age and older: injection-site pain, tenderness, or soreness (67.0%), injection site warmth (18.2%), and headache (16.1%).

 

Hepatitis A virus has a relatively long incubation period (approximately 20 to 50 days). VAQTA may not prevent hepatitis A infection in individuals who have an unrecognized hepatitis A infection at the time of vaccination.

 

Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a diminished immune response to VAQTA and may not be protected against HAV infection after vaccination.

 

Vaccination with VAQTA may not result in a protective response in all susceptible vaccinees.

 

VAQTA may be administered concomitantly with Immune Globulin, human, using separate sites and syringes.

 

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies designed to evaluate VAQTA in pregnant women, including those 19 years of age or younger. Available post-approval data do not suggest an increased risk of miscarriage or major birth defects in women who received VAQTA during pregnancy.

 

It is not known whether VAQTA is excreted in human milk. Data are not available to assess the effects of VAQTA on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VAQTA and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from VAQTA or from the underlying maternal condition.

 

The total duration of the protective effect of VAQTA in healthy vaccinees is unknown at present.

 

In clinical trials in adults, VAQTA was concomitantly administered with typhoid Vi polysaccharide and yellow fever vaccines. Safety and immunogenicity were similar for concomitantly administered vaccines compared to separately administered vaccines.

 

Before administering VAQTA, please read the accompanying Prescribing Information. The Patient Information also is available.

Indication for VAQTA®(Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)

VAQTA® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) is indicated for the prevention of disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in persons 12 months of age and older. The primary dose should be given at least 2 weeks prior to expected exposure to HAV.

 

Dosage and Administration for VAQTA

Adults (19 years of age and older): The vaccination schedule consists of a primary 1 mL dose administered intramuscularly and a 1 mL booster dose administered intramuscularly 6 to 18 months later.

 

Booster Immunization Following Another Manufacturer’s Hepatitis A Vaccine: A booster dose of VAQTA may be given at 6 to 12 months following a primary dose of Havrix*.

 

*Havrix is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

VAQTA® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) is indicated for the prevention of

VAQTA® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) is indicated for the prevention of disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in persons 12 months of age and older. The primary dose should be given at least 2 weeks prior to expected exposure to HAV.

Select Safety Information for VAQTA®(Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)

Do not administer VAQTA to individuals with a history of immediate and/or severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any hepatitis A vaccine, or to individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction to any component of VAQTA, including neomycin.

 

The vial stopper and the syringe plunger stopper and tip cap contain dry natural latex rubber that may cause allergic reactions in latex-sensitive individuals.

 

The most common local adverse reactions and systemic adverse events (≥15%) reported in different clinical trials across different age groups when VAQTA was administered alone or concomitantly were:

 

  • Adults 19 years of age and older: injection-site pain, tenderness, or soreness (67.0%), injection site warmth (18.2%), and headache (16.1%).

 

Hepatitis A virus has a relatively long incubation period (approximately 20 to 50 days). VAQTA may not prevent hepatitis A infection in individuals who have an unrecognized hepatitis A infection at the time of vaccination.

 

Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a diminished immune response to VAQTA and may not be protected against HAV infection after vaccination.

 

Vaccination with VAQTA may not result in a protective response in all susceptible vaccinees.

 

VAQTA may be administered concomitantly with Immune Globulin, human, using separate sites and syringes.

 

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies designed to evaluate VAQTA in pregnant women, including those 19 years of age or younger. Available post-approval data do not suggest an increased risk of miscarriage or major birth defects in women who received VAQTA during pregnancy.

 

It is not known whether VAQTA is excreted in human milk. Data are not available to assess the effects of VAQTA on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VAQTA and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from VAQTA or from the underlying maternal condition.

 

The total duration of the protective effect of VAQTA in healthy vaccinees is unknown at present.

 

In clinical trials in adults, VAQTA was concomitantly administered with typhoid Vi polysaccharide and yellow fever vaccines. Safety and immunogenicity were similar for concomitantly administered vaccines compared to separately administered vaccines.

 

Before administering VAQTA, please read the accompanying Prescribing Information. The Patient Information also is available.

Do not administer VAQTA to individuals with a history of immediate and/or

Do not administer VAQTA to individuals with a history of immediate and/or severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any hepatitis A vaccine, or to individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction to any component of VAQTA, including neomycin.