Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using AVAXIM?
AVAXIM contains the active ingredient Hepatitis A Virus (inactivated, adsorbed). AVAXIM
is a vaccine used to help prevent Hepatitis A infection.
2. What should I know before I use AVAXIM?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to AVAXIM or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with AVAXIM and affect how it works.
4. How do I use AVAXIM?
AVAXIM is given as an injection into your upper arm muscle by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor will usually give you one injection, followed by another injection 6 to
36 months later.
5. What should I know while using AVAXIM?
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Things you should do
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Keep an updated record of your vaccinations.
Attend any other appointments made by your doctor or nurse.
Report any side effects to your doctor.
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Things you should not do
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Do not have AVAXIM if you have had a severe reaction to a previous injection of this
vaccine.
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Looking after your medicine
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AVAXIM is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy.
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6. Are there any side effects?
The more common side effects of AVAXIM include local reaction around the injection
site, bruising, mild fever, headaches, unusual weakness, aching muscles, muscle tenderness
or weakness (not caused by exercise), painful, swollen joints, nausea, diarrhoea,
vomiting or abdominal pain, fainting, severe allergic reaction and seizures. Mostly
these are mild and short-lived.
Active ingredient(s):
Hepatitis A Virus (inactivated, adsorbed)
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using AVAXIM. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using AVAXIM.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using AVAXIM?
AVAXIM contains the active ingredient Hepatitis A Virus (inactivated, adsorbed). AVAXIM is a vaccine used to help prevent Hepatitis A infection.
Hepatitis A is an infection caused by a virus which is usually transmitted in unclean
food or drink. It may also be transmitted by sharing needles and some sexual practices.
The vaccine contains inactivated virus and is injected into the body. The body then
produces its own protection by making disease-fighting substances (antibodies) to
fight the virus. The vaccine cannot cause the infection. If a vaccinated person comes
into contact with live virus the body is usually ready to destroy it. However, as
with all vaccines, 100% protection against hepatitis A cannot be guaranteed. Avaxim
will not protect against hepatitis caused by other agents or viruses (such as hepatitis
B, hepatitis C, or hepatitis E).
As with most vaccines, AVAXIM may not protect every person.
AVAXIM is recommended in adults and children aged 2 years and older.
2. What should I know before I use AVAXIM?
Warnings
Do not use AVAXIM if:
you are allergic to AVAXIM, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you have had a severe reaction to a previous injection of this vaccine.
the child is under 2 years of age. The safety and efficacy of AVAXIM in these children
has not been established.
Check with your doctor if you:
have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
Lowered immunity due to diseases such as some blood disorders, leukaemia, malaria,
kidney disease requiring dialysis, HIV/AIDS or cancer.
Lowered immunity due to treatment with medicines such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin
or other medicines used to treat cancer (including radiation therapy).
If you have lowered immunity then the vaccine may not work as well as it would in
healthy individuals.
take any medicines for any other condition.
have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine.
have an illness with a high temperature or any acute illness. Your doctor may decide
to delay vaccine until the illness has passed. A mild illness, such as a cold, is
not usually a reason to delay vaccination.
have any allergies to:
neomycin.
any other medicines.
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
AVAXIM is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider
AVAXIM during your pregnancy, your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks
of having it.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of having AVAXIM during breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Having other vaccines
As AVAXIM does not contain any live bacteria or viruses, it can generally be given
at the same time as other inactivated vaccines, but at a different injection site.
AVAXIM can be given at the same time as yellow fever vaccine or polysaccharide typhoid
vaccine at different injection sites.
Other medicines should be taken as usual after the vaccination.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect AVAXIM.
4. How do I use AVAXIM?
How AVAXIM is given
AVAXIM is given as an injection into your upper arm muscle by a doctor or nurse.
For some people with bleeding disorders, the dose may need to be given under the skin.
AVAXIM should not be injected directly into the veins or into the buttocks.
The dose is the same for adults and children, 0.5 mL of vaccine. The first injection
is followed by a second injection 6 to 36 months later in order to give long-term
protection. AVAXIM may be given as a second injection to those who have previously
been vaccinated with another inactivated hepatitis A vaccine.
It is important to return at the scheduled date for the second dose. If you miss a
scheduled dose, talk to your doctor and arrange another visit as soon as possible.
Because hepatitis A infection can go undetected for a long period of time, it is possible
that an individual may already be infected at the time the vaccine is given. The vaccine
may not prevent hepatitis A in these individuals.
How much is injected
Your doctor will usually give you one injection, followed by another injection 6 to
36 months later.
5. What should I know while using AVAXIM?
Things you should do
Keep an updated record of your vaccinations.
Attend any other appointments made by your doctor or nurse.
Report any side effects to your doctor.
Remind any doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using AVAXIM.
Looking after your medicine
AVAXIM is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However,
if you need to store AVAXIM
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
Keep AVAXIM in the original pack until it is time for it to be given.
Keep it in the refrigerator, between 2°C and 8°C. Do not freeze AVAXIM. Freezing destroys
the vaccine.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Skin-related:
Local reaction around the injection site such as pain sometimes associated with redness.
The appearance of a nodule at the injection site has been observed in very rare cases
Rash sometimes associated with itchiness of skin, or pinkish, itchy swelling on the
skin
General body:
Mild fever
Bruising
Neurological-related:
Headaches
Unusual weakness
Fainting
Seizures
Musculoskeletal-related:
Aching muscles, muscle tenderness or weakness (not caused by exercise)
Painful, swollen joints
Gastrointestinal-related:
Stomach upsets such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Liver-related:
Mild reversible rise in liver enzyme that can only be found when your doctor does
tests
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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Allergy-related:
Severe allergic reaction. Symptoms may include:
Shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
Skin rash, itching or hives
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell after you have been given AVAXIM.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What AVAXIM contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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160 antigen units hepatitis A virus (inactivated, adsorbed)
The hepatitis A virus that this vaccine contains was grown in a cell line derived
from human embryonic lung in the 1960s.
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Aluminium hydroxide hydrate
Phenoxyethanol
Ethanol absolute
Formaldehyde
Medium 199 (Hanks) supplemented with Polysorbate 80
Neomycin (trace)
Bovine serum albumin (trace)
The manufacture of this product includes exposure to bovine derived materials. No
evidence exists that any case of vCJD (considered to be the human form of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy) has resulted from the administration of any vaccine product.
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Potential allergens
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N/A
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What AVAXIM looks like
Each pack of AVAXIM contains one syringe filled with inactivated Hepatitis A vaccine.
Aust R 194815
Who distributes AVAXIM
Australia:
sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
12-24 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Australia
Tel: 1800 818 806
New Zealand:
Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Ltd t/a Healthcare Logistics
PO Box 62027
Sylvia Park Auckland 1644
Freecall: 0800 283 684
This leaflet was prepared in September 2023.
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