Avaxim – Sanofi
Indication and Usage –
- Avaxim is recommended for the prevention of the infection caused by the hepatitis A virus in children aged from 12 months to 15 years inclusive.
Dosage and Administration –
- This vaccine must be administered by the intramuscular route.
- In exceptional cases, the vaccine may be administered by the subcutaneous route in patients suffering from thrombocytopaenia or in patients at risk of haemorrhage.
- Do not inject intravascular or intradermal route. Do not inject into buttock.
- The vaccination schedule includes a single primary vaccination dose. A booster injection is recommended 6 to 36 months later in order to obtain long-term protection. This booster will protect child against hepatitis A beyond 10 years.
Contraindications –
- An allergy to the active substance, to any of the other ingredients of vaccine, to neomycin or shown hypersensitivity following a previous injection of this vaccine.
- A febrile illness, acute infection or progressive chronic disease (it is preferable to postpone vaccination)
Adverse reactions –
- Common reactions are appetite decrease, irritability, insomnia, headache, belly pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, local injection site reactions such as pain, redness, swelling or induration, fever, fatigue.
- Uncommon reactions are skin eruptions (rash) with itching (urticaria).
- Very rare reactions are fainting in response to injection.
Drug interactions and other interactions –
- No clinical data on concomitant administration of AVAXIM with other inactivated vaccine(s) or recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccine have been generated.
- When concurrent administration is considered necessary, AVAXIM must not be mixed with other vaccines in the same syringe, and other vaccines should be administered at different sites with different syringes and needles.
- Seroconversion rates were not modified when AVAXIM was given at the same time as but at a different injection site to a Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine or a yellow fever vaccine reconstituted with a Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine.
- AVAXIM should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary and following an assessment of the risks and benefits.
The use of this vaccine is possible during breast-feeding.
