From the FDA Drug Label
HAVRIX is approved for use in persons 12 months of age and older. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
For a 5-month-old male infant from Alberta traveling internationally, Hepatitis A vaccination is not routinely recommended at this age, and the best protection against Hepatitis A would be through careful attention to food and water safety precautions during travel. The Hepatitis A vaccine is only approved for children 6 months of age and older in Canada. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases 1, the major pediatric indications for vaccine are travelers to areas with intermediate to high rates of endemic hepatitis A, children living in defined and circumscribed communities with high endemic rates or periodic outbreaks of HAV infection, and patients with chronic liver disease. For this 5-month-old infant, parents should ensure they consume only bottled or boiled water, avoid raw or undercooked foods, and practice diligent hand hygiene. Once the child reaches 6 months of age, he can receive the Hepatitis A vaccine if traveling to high-risk areas. The standard pediatric dose is 0.5 mL given intramuscularly, with a second dose recommended 6-12 months later for long-term protection. Some studies have compared the efficacy of Hepatitis A vaccine and immune globulin for postexposure prophylaxis, with one study finding that both provided good protection after exposure, although the vaccine may have slightly lower efficacy 2. However, the vaccine has the advantage of providing long-term protection. It's also important to note that immune globulin can provide protection against Hepatitis A, but its duration of protection is dose-dependent and typically lasts less than six months 3. In terms of the immunogenicity of the Hepatitis A vaccine, studies have shown that it can stimulate the production of antibodies against the Hepatitis A virus, providing protection against this food and waterborne illness 4. Overall, while the Hepatitis A vaccine is not recommended for infants under 6 months of age, careful attention to food and water safety precautions during travel can help protect against Hepatitis A, and the vaccine can be considered once the child reaches 6 months of age if traveling to high-risk areas.