Vaccinations against hepatitis A and B
Verified 12 September 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Viral hepatitis is a serious disease because of the risk of its complication and progression.
Vaccination can effectively prevent hepatitis A and B. It is recommended for some people and mandatory in some cases.
These rules apply to all persons residing in France, regardless of their nationality.
We present you with the information you need to know.
Hepatitis A
General rules
Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for the following:
- Youth in institutions and services for children and youth with disabilities
- People with cystic fibrosis
- People with liver diseases that can become chronic (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or liver damage due to excessive alcohol consumption)
- Child from 1 year of age, born to a family of which at least one of the members originates from a country whose infection is frequent and may be required to stay there
- Man who has sex with men.
Menstrual periods around a person infected with hepatitis A
In the presence of one or more confirmed cases of hepatitis A, vaccination is recommended for the following people:
- Family or friend of a person with hepatitis A (or any person living in the same household) within 14 days or less
- Community of life in a situation of poor hygiene when there is a case of hepatitis A.
Rules in the workplace
Vaccination is recommended for the following professionals at risk of contamination:
- In charge of children under the age of cleanliness (examples: nursery assistants, nursery staff)
- Working in collective accommodation facilities for people with disabilities
- Wastewater and sewage treatment
- Involved in food preparation in collective catering (canteens).
FYI
Your treating doctor or your occupational doctor may inform you whether or not you need to be vaccinated.
Rules for certain travelers
Vaccination is recommended for travelers who have to stay in a country where hygiene is precarious, particularly for people suffering from chronic liver disease and cystic fibrosis.
The same is true for people who are transplanted or waiting for a transplant and for people living with AIDS (HIV).
It is recommended as early as 1 year of age.
You need to see a doctor to get a prescription and then buy the vaccine from a pharmacy.
Vaccination can be carried out in the doctor's office or in a public institution (dispensary, maternal and child protection center, free vaccination center).
Your city hall can provide you with the addresses of these organizations.
Other health care practitioners (for example, a midwife) may prescribe and administer this vaccine.
Please note
If your child is vaccinated, the vaccine should be recorded on the child’s health book.
Cost of the vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccine is reimbursed to 65% by health insurance for:
- Patient or carrier of active chronic liver disease including hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Cystic fibrosis patient
FYI
The remaining amount is usually reimbursed by the mutual.
Cost of injection
Vaccine injection is paying, but reimbursed by the Social Security, where it is carried out by:
- A doctor or midwife (reimbursement to 70%)
- A nurse (reimbursement to 60%).
FYI
The mutual can also take care of the rest.
Vaccine injection can be managed at 100% for people with certain long-term illness (ALD).
Vaccine injection is free in a public facility (health center, maternal and child protection center, free vaccination center).
If you notice an adverse effect on your health, following vaccination, you can report it on the portal "Health reporting":
Hepatitis B
General rules
Vaccination against hepatitis B is mandatory in all infants born from 1er January 2018 from the age of 2 months.
It is also recommended, as a catch-up, for all children or adolescents up to and including 15 years of age.
Special rules
This vaccination also includes the following:
- Child or adolescent in child and youth services and institutions with disabilities
- Preschool children in community care (example: nursery)
- Newborn of a hepatitis B carrier mother, newborn in Guyana or Mayotte
- Child or adult admitted to psychiatric institutions
- People who have sex with multiple partners, who are exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or who have had an ongoing or recent STI
- Intravenous or intranasal drug abuser
- Traveler to middle- or high-endemic countries
- A person who resides in areas with a high or medium endemic disease
- Person who can be transfused or receive blood products (hemophiliacs, dialysis, renal insufficiency...) or receive an organ or tissue transplant
- A close relative of a person with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection (a person living in the same household)
- Sexual partner of a person infected with hepatitis B virus or a chronic carrier of the virus
- Inmate who may have a number of exposure factors to the hepatitis B virus
- Person with chronic liver disease
- People with HIV or hepatitis C virus infection.
Rules in the workplace
Persons who, as part of professional or voluntary activities, may be in direct contact with patients and/or be exposed to blood and other biological products are vaccinated. For example: health professionals, first responders, prison guards, garbage collectors, sewers, police officers, tattooists, and water-scavengers.
This contact can also be indirect (handling and transport of medical devices, biological samples, laundry, waste).
You need to see a doctor to get a prescription and then buy the vaccine from a pharmacy.
Vaccination can be carried out in the doctor's office or in a public institution (dispensary, maternal and child protection center, free vaccination center).
Your city hall can provide you with the addresses of these organizations.
Other health care practitioners (for example, a midwife) may prescribe and administer this vaccine.
Please note
If your child is vaccinated, the vaccine should be recorded on the child’s health book.
Cost of the vaccine
Prescription-bought hepatitis B vaccine is reimbursed to 65% by Health Insurance.
FYI
The remaining amount is usually reimbursed by the mutual.
Cost of injection
Vaccine injection is paying, but reimbursed by the Social Security, where it is carried out by:
- A doctor or midwife (reimbursement to 70%)
- A nurse (reimbursement to 60%).
FYI
The mutual can also take care of the rest.
Vaccine injection can be managed at 100% for people with certain long-term illness (ALD).
Vaccine injection is free in a public facility (health center, maternal and child protection center, free vaccination center).
If you notice an adverse effect on your health, following vaccination, you can report it on the portal "Health reporting":
Hepatitis C
There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C.
Only blood tests can testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Hepatitis Info Service
Anonymous information, advice and advice on hepatitis. The service can refer to specialized legal or medical training professionals for support and follow-up.
By telephone
From the UK: 0 800 845 800 (Call and free service, from a landline or mobile phone. This call is anonymous and confidential)
From the foreigner: 00 33 1 41 83 42 78 (cost of the call to be borne by the appellant)
8am to 11pm, 7 days a week
By E-mail
Access to contact form
Online service
Ministry of Health
Sida Info Service
Sida Info Service
National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam)