Licensed vaccine product
Vaqta: side effects, ingredients & package insert
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · hepatitis A vaccine · inactivated · intramuscular · 0.5 mL pediatric / 1 mL adult
Vaqta ingredients (FDA package insert, Section 11)
Per-dose composition as stated in the prescribing information; verified 2026-07-09. Click an ingredient for every vaccine that contains it.
| Role | Ingredient | Amount per dose |
|---|---|---|
| Antigen | Hepatitis A virus, inactivated | 25 U pediatric / 50 U adult |
| Adjuvant | Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate | |
| Preservative | None (preservative-free) | Single-dose presentation; label states no preservative. |
| buffer | Sodium borate | 35 mcg (pediatric 0.5 mL) |
| buffer | Sodium chloride 0.9% | vehicle |
| inactivating_agent_residual | Formaldehyde | <0.8 mcg residual (50 U dose scale) |
| residual_manufacturing | Bovine albumin | <10^-4 mcg residual (50 U scale) |
| antibiotic_residual | Neomycin | trace residual |
Source: DailyMed. Formulations change — re-verify before clinical use.
Vaqta side effects: where the data is
Reported reactions for Vaqta and the other hepatitis A products are compiled on the hepatitis A vaccine page: pre-licensure trial reactogenicity, VAERS report counts, and international databases (Canada Vigilance, EudraVigilance, Lareb, VigiAccess). Those counts are spontaneous reports with no denominator — a report does not establish that the vaccine caused the event.
Vaqta lot number lookup
VAERS report counts are available by lot for Hepatitis A vaccines. Use the hepatitis A lot number lookup or search any lot directly in the lot explorer. Lot numbers are printed on the vaccination record card and the vial label.
Vaqta vs Havrix
All licensed hepatitis A vaccine products side by side. Differences in platform, adjuvant and route are the usual reasons one is chosen over another; efficacy and safety comparisons belong to the trial and surveillance sections of the hepatitis A vaccine page.
| Product | Manufacturer | Platform | Adjuvant | Route | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaqta | Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC | inactivated | Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate | intramuscular | |
| Havrix | GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals | inactivated | Aluminum hydroxide | intramuscular | page |
Schedule and age range
Licensed ages and the recommended series for hepatitis A vaccines are on the hepatitis A vaccine page; how 31 countries schedule it is on hepatitis A schedule by country. Always confirm the product-specific age range in the current package insert.
Common questions about Vaqta
What are the side effects of Vaqta?
Common reactions listed in the Vaqta package insert are injection-site pain, redness or swelling and short-lived systemic symptoms such as fever, tiredness or irritability. Rarer events and the reported counts from VAERS and international databases are on the hepatitis A vaccine page; counts are reports, not rates, and do not prove the vaccine caused the event.
What is in Vaqta?
Vaqta contains Hepatitis A virus, inactivated as antigen; adjuvant: Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate; it is preservative-free. Excipients: Sodium borate, Sodium chloride 0.9%, Formaldehyde, Bovine albumin, Neomycin. Amounts per dose are in the table above, taken from Section 11 of the FDA package insert (verified 2026-07-09).
Where is the Vaqta package insert?
The FDA-licensed prescribing information for Vaqta is published by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC and the FDA; the source used for this page is https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=89191ae9-7f2b-4206-8397-bf7fce3436ac. Formulations change, so re-verify the current insert before clinical use.
How does Vaqta compare with Havrix?
Vaqta (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC) uses a inactivated platform with adjuvant Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, given intramuscular; Havrix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) uses inactivated with adjuvant Aluminum hydroxide. Both are licensed hepatitis A vaccines; the comparison table above lists every product.
Reviewed 2026-10-08 · Matthew Thomas J Halma, Founder, Open Source Medicine Foundation. Informational, not medical advice.