Victor Joseph
Consultant in Public Health
Civic Office
Waterdale
Doncaster
DN1 3BU
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
09/02/2016
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Following the recent diagnosis of acute hepatitis A in a pupil attending your school, we would
recommend that your child is immunised against hepatitis A. The vaccine is being offered to
children who may have been exposed to the virus as a precautionary measure. It is also
important to continue to maintain good hand washing and hygiene.
Hepatitis A vaccine is commonly given for travel reasons and is very safe and effective,
although like all vaccines it may not prevent infection in all cases. It is therefore important to
seek medical advice in the unlikely event of symptoms.
Young children with hepatitis A often have mild or no symptoms at all but can pass the
infection to others.
Please can you read the attached information and complete the consent form below.
Please return the form to the school when you arrive for vaccination on Monday 20th
July.
If your child has already been immunised against hepatitis A in the last six months e.g. for
travel reasons, further immunisation is not required. If you are unsure whether any previous
hepatitis A immunisation is up to date, please check with your GP surgery.
The immunisation will be carried out by trained school nurses in the school on Monday 20th
July. You must attend with your child while the vaccine is administered.
The immunisation session at Woodfield Primary School will begin at 09.15am and close at 5
pm on Monday 20th July 2015. You are welcome to attend anytime during these hours. If you
are unable to attend, please contact the school, or alternatively the school nursing team on
01302 645562.
For more information or if you have any queries regarding the contents of this letter please
contact the school, or again the school nursing team on 01302 645562.
Yours sincerely
1
HEPATITIS A
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral disease, which affects the liver. It occurs most often in school children
and young adults and is often associated with foreign travel. It may be known as infectious
hepatitis. It is a different disease from hepatitis B and C.
How do I know if someone has it?
The illness usually begins with a sudden onset of fever (temperature), feeling unwell, loss of
appetite, nausea and stomach pain which is followed within a few days by jaundice - a
yellow discolouration of the whites of the eyes and often the skin. Severity of symptoms
increases with age. Young children may have mild infections without jaundice or other
symptoms.
Is it infectious?
Yes, the infection is most commonly spread from person to person by infected faeces
(stools) and poor hygiene. Transmission within households is very common. The faeces
from infected people are infectious for two weeks before the person becomes ill and for
about a week after the jaundice appears. Children without symptoms may be infectious for
several weeks. People travelling abroad to countries where sanitation is poor are at risk of
becoming infected. It is always advisable to seek travel health advice from your GP before
undertaking any foreign travel.
Cases can return to their work/ school roughly seven days after the illness begins if they feel
well enough.
How can the spread of hepatitis A infection be avoided?

Good hand washing; especially after using the toilet, after helping a child with toileting
and before eating and preparing food, is the most effective way to prevent hepatitis A
spreading.

Toilets (handles and seats) should be kept clean.
What is the incubation period?
Illness may appear between 2 to 6 weeks after contact with an infected person. While
vaccination may prevent the disease from occurring it may not be completely effective in
preventing the illness if the person is incubating the illness due the long incubation period. It
is therefore important to be aware of the signs and symptoms described above and seek
advice from your GP if concerned.
Can you tell me more about the vaccine?
The vaccine is an inactivated vaccine (not a live virus) and cannot cause the illness it
protects against. The vaccine is usually offered to household contacts of cases of infection
as a precaution. The vaccine is very safe and effective but may not prevent infection in all
cases. Side effects are usually mild and the commonest reactions are transient soreness at
the injection site. An initial dose of vaccine will give short term protection. If longer term
protection is needed (e.g. for travel purposes), a booster dose can be given at 6 to 12
months for protection which will last up to 20 years
What should I do if I think a member of my household has the illness?
Seek advice from your GP.
Hepatitis A vaccine consent form
Child first name:
_______________
Child surname: _________________
Date of birth:
________________
School
_________________ Year Group and Class ___________
Address:
________________________________________
________________________________________
GP name:
________________________________________
GP address:
________________________________________
Parent/guardian name:
_________________________________________
Parent/guardian daytime contact telephone number____________________________
For the following questions, please tick appropriately. If unsure, please check with
your GP
1. Has your child received a hepatitis A containing vaccine previously?
Yes / No
2. If “Yes” to question 1, when did your child have hepatitis A vaccine? _______________
3. Has your child ever had a life threatening anaphylactic reaction to any of the following?
(i) Hepatitis A vaccine. Yes/No
(ii) Egg products, Yes/No
(iii) Formaldehyde Yes/No
If yes, please give details of the reaction here:…………………………………………………….
I have read the leaflet and am aware that this immunisation will be offered to my child
in school on 20th July 2015.
I consent for my child to receive hepatitis A immunisation (delete as applicable)
I do not consent for my child to receive hepatitis A immunisation (delete as
applicable)
Signed ______________________________ (Parent/guardian)
Date________________
This section to be completed by Health Care Worker
Date
Vaccine/Brand
Dose
Batch number
Expiry date
Signature of vaccinator………………….............................
Print name………………………………………….Date ………………………
3
Site of
injection