The most common side effects of the hepatitis A vaccine are soreness, redness and swelling where the injection went in. Less often, people have a slight temperature, tiredness, a headache, feel sick or lose their appetite for a while. Side effects are usually mild and confined to the first few days. If you haven’t had yours yet, you can book your hepatitis A vaccine in Epsom with us.
What’s normal afterwards
A sore arm
The most common reaction. The arm can be tender, a little red or slightly swollen and firm where the injection went in.
A small lump
A small, painless lump can form where the injection went in. It usually disappears and is nothing to worry about.
Feeling under the weather
Less often: a slight temperature, tiredness, a headache, feeling sick, feeling dizzy or going off your food.
How long it lasts
Side effects are usually mild and confined to the first few days after the injection. The NHS says a small bump where you were injected, a high temperature or a headache are common after travel vaccines, and usually mild.
When to get help
Call 999
If your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell, you’re struggling to breathe or breathing very fast, or your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow. These are signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Call us or NHS 111
If side effects go on beyond the first few days, or you’re worried about how you feel after the vaccine. Call us on 020 8393 1000.
Reporting a side effect
Suspected side effects can be reported to the medicines regulator through the Yellow Card scheme.
Tell us before your appointment
A previous severe allergic reaction
The vaccine isn’t given to anyone who has had a confirmed severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a hepatitis A vaccine, or to anything in the vaccine. If that might be you, tell us when you book and the pharmacist will talk it through.
Feeling unwell on the day
If you have a fever or are acutely unwell, it can wait until you’ve fully recovered. A minor illness without a fever, such as a cold, is no reason to put it off.
Pregnant or breastfeeding
The vaccine can be given in pregnancy when it’s needed. UK guidance says there’s no evidence of risk from vaccinating pregnant or breastfeeding women with inactivated vaccines. Tell us when you book, and the pharmacist will go through it with you.
A weakened immune system
The vaccine can be given, though your body’s response may be weaker. Let us know about any condition or treatment that affects your immune system.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Some hepatitis A vaccines contain phenylalanine. If you have PKU, tell us when you book.
A bleeding disorder
If you have a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia, tell us. UK guidance is to use a fine needle and press firmly on the spot for at least two minutes afterwards.
With other travel vaccines
It can be given at the same appointment as other travel vaccines. Each one goes in a different spot, preferably a different arm.
Coming to us from around Epsom
We’re at 94 Chessington Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT19 9UR. The door is step-free, there’s a bus stop outside, and Ewell West station nearby has step-free access to every platform. If you’re coming from Surbiton or Kingston, call us on 020 8393 1000 to book.
Questions about side effects
How long do hepatitis A vaccine side effects last?
They’re usually mild and confined to the first few days. If they go on longer, or you’re worried, call us or NHS 111.
I have a small lump on my arm. Is that normal?
Yes. A small, painless lump can form where the injection went in. It usually disappears and is nothing to worry about.
Can I have it if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
It can be given in pregnancy when it’s needed, and UK guidance says there’s no evidence of risk from vaccinating pregnant or breastfeeding women with inactivated vaccines. Tell us when you book.
Can I have it if I’ve got a cold?
Yes. A minor illness without a fever is no reason to put it off. If you have a fever or are acutely unwell, wait until you’ve fully recovered.
Can I travel straight after the vaccine?
Yes. It can be given up to the day you leave. Our guide to having the hepatitis A vaccine at the last minute explains why a late dose still counts.
Will the second dose feel the same?
The same side effects are possible with either dose. If you had a severe allergic reaction to the first, tell us before your second. Our guide to how long the hepatitis A vaccine lasts explains when the second dose is due.
Sources
- UKHSA: the Green Book, chapter 17, hepatitis A, checked 2 October 2026
- NaTHNaC: hepatitis A factsheet, checked 2 October 2026
- NHS: anaphylaxis, checked 2 October 2026
- NHS: travel vaccinations, checked 2 October 2026
