ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF HEPATITIS A VACCINES IN THE CONTROL OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTION: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Keywords:
Hepatitis A vaccine, inactivated virus vaccine, recommendations, Public health impact, Vaccine developmentAbstract
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a highly contagious pathogen responsible for acute liver inflammation and significant global disease burden. While the Hepatitis A vaccine has been proven to be a safe and effective preventive measure—inducing protective antibodies in over 95% of recipients and offering long-term immunity for up to 30 years—there remains a need to critically assess its implementation and impact across various populations and geographic regions. Existing research predominantly focuses on clinical efficacy and safety profiles, yet there is limited evaluation of vaccine coverage disparities, long-term public health outcomes, and integration with other immunization programs. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the types, effectiveness, and safety of Hepatitis A vaccines while identifying gaps in vaccine accessibility, uptake among high-risk populations, and the role of combination vaccines in improving coverage. Addressing these gaps is essential for optimizing immunization strategies and sustaining the global reduction in HAV incidence.
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