Emergency
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Hepatitis A

Related topics: Conditions and diseases

Hepatitis A is a preventable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

Hepatitis A vaccination opportunities for people at risk of exposure

This list of clinics and pharmacies will be updated as more locations are identified. If none work for you, or if you live outside the VCH region, please call your local pharmacy to see if they have hepatitis A vaccine available.


 

  • Sunshine Coast

    Clinics:

    Friday, Aug. 29
    9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Sechelt Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 5571 Inlet Avenue, Sechelt

    9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Gibsons Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 821 Gibsons Way, Gibsons

    Saturday, Aug. 30 
    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Gibsons Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 821 Gibsons Way, Gibsons

    Sunday, Aug. 31
    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Gibsons Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 821 Gibsons Way, Gibsons

    Tuesday – Friday, Sept. 2-5 
    9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Gibsons Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 821 Gibsons Way, Gibsons

  • qathet

    Clinic:

    Saturday, Aug. 30 
    9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at qathet Health Unit – Drop In
    Address: 5000 Joyce Avenue (3rd floor), Powell River

    Pharmacy:

    FreshCo Pharmacy 
    https://freshco.com/stores/freshco-barnet-joyce/

  • Squamish

    Clinics:

    Friday, Aug. 29  
    9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Squamish Public Health – Drop In
    Address: 1140 Hunter Place

    Saturday, Aug. 30 
    9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Squamish Public Health – Drop In
    Address: 1140 Hunter Place

     

  • Vancouver

    Clinics:

    Friday, Aug. 29 
    1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Ravensong Community Health Centre
    Address: 2450 Ontario Street, Vancouver

    Saturday, Aug. 30 
    2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Ravensong Community Health Centre
    Address: 2450 Ontario Street, Vancouver

    Sunday, Aug. 31
    2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Ravensong Community Health Centre
    Address: 2450 Ontario Street, Vancouver

    After the weekend please call your local health unit

  • North Shore

    Clinics

    Friday, Aug. 29
    2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Drop-in Clinic (All ages) 
    Address: 132 West Esplanade, 5th floor - Children’s Health Clinic 

    Saturday, Aug. 30
    Children 4 years and under by appointment. Book an appointment via JaneApp
    Address: 132 West Esplanade, 6th floor 

    Pharmacies

    Shoppers #251 Parkgate
    3650 Mt. Seymour Parkway      
    Friday, Aug. 29 from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
    Saturday, Aug. 30 from 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
    Sunday, Aug. 31 from 10:15 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
    Clients can drop in or book appointments: 604-924-1788

    Shoppers # 243  Park Royal
    802 Main St, West Vancouver
    Friday, Aug. 29 from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
    Saturday, Aug. 30 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
    Sunday, Aug. 31 from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
    Clients need to book appointments: 604 926-1114

    Pharmasave Marine Drive
    302-1150 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 1S8
    Phone:  604-971-5163

    Northmount Pharmacy and Compounding Lab
    165 15th Street East, North Vancouver, BC, V7L 2P7
    Phone: 604-985-8241
    Fax 604-985-1240
    http://www.northmountpharmacy.ca/

    Shoppers Drug Mart
    3260 Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver
    Clients need to book appointments: 778-338-6363 or book online

  • Richmond

    Clinics

    Friday, Aug 29 
    Richmond Public Health Unit, 8100 Granville, Richmond
    Call the Health unit at 604-233-3148 for the nurse on call between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
    After 4:30 p.m. and for the weekend contact our Partner Pharmacies which are already listed on the website

    Pharmacies

    Shopper’s Drug Mart Minato Village
    3868 Steveston Hwy, Richmond
    Call to book an appointment: 604-288-6343

About Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A disease can last from a few weeks to several months. It does not lead to chronic infection — in most cases, the liver heals completely with no lasting damage. Older adults and people with other medical conditions may take longer to recover and can have a more serious course of the disease. Find out more about hepatitis A

How it is spread

The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool of an infected person, and can be spread through contaminated food or water, or person to person, including during oral and anal sex.

Symptoms

After the hepatitis A virus enters your body, it can take from 15 to 50 days before you feel sick. The symptoms can be so mild that people may not be aware they’ve been infected. Other people get sick with some of the following symptoms:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Dark urine
  • A tired feeling (like you have the flu)
  • Vomiting
  • Clay-coloured bowel movements
  • A sore feeling in the upper-right stomach area
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyeballs

The symptoms can last from one to two weeks, to several months. Most people recover completely and then are immune to re-infection. Death can occur, but is rare. The symptoms can be more severe in people who already have hepatitis C.

Prevention

Protect yourself against hepatitis A by always washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before preparing meals, and before eating. Other important precautions include:

  • Get vaccinated
  • Be aware when you travel
  • Ensure proper hygiene and take precautions with food and drink
  • Avoid peeled fruit and raw vegetables, salads, dairy products with unpasteurized milk, and raw or undercooked meat, fish and shellfish and any food sold by street vendors.
  • Swim only in chlorinated pools
  • Do not share food, drinks or cigarettes

Vaccination

A vaccine is available which protects people against hepatitis A. It is given as a series of two shots given at least six months apart. The vaccine provides excellent protection against hepatitis A in all age groups except infants less than six months of age.

Pre-exposure (PrEP)

The vaccine is the best way to protect against hepatitis A infection. When you get immunized, you help protect others as well.

In B.C., the hepatitis A vaccine is provided free to people at high risk of infection, including men who have sex with men.

Post-exposure (PEP)

If given within two weeks of exposure, immunization with one dose of can help prevent infection.