The Urwin Pharmacy Group
Typhoid Travel Vaccine
What is Typhoid?
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection acquired through food or water contaminated by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Paratyphoid is a clinically similar illness, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, B or C. These organisms are usually referred to as S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A, B or C.
Typhoid and paratyphoid mainly affect low income areas of the world, where sanitation and clean water are lacking. The majority of typhoid cases occur in Asia, but it continues to be a public health concern in many other low income countries in Africa and Central and South America.
Typhoid Travel Vaccine
Typhoid vaccination is recommended for travellers whose planned activities put them at a higher risk of typhoid infection, these are in areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor. Vaccinations currently available only protect against typhoid and not paratyphoid infection. Both oral and injectable vaccines are available. Some vaccinations are combined with hepatitis A.
The risk of acquiring typhoid can be reduced with good personal hygiene and following advice on the prevention of food and water-borne diseases. All travellers should practice food and water hygiene precautions.
Length of Protection
Typhoid vaccines lose effectiveness over time. Following a single dose of an injectable or a complete course of oral typhoid vaccine, reinforcing immunisation should be offered at three-year intervals for those at continued risk. Booster vaccination of oral typhoid consists of 3 further capsules.
What travel vaccinations do I need?
Speak to your expert Pharmacist at your local Urwin Pharmacy branch for current advice and recommendations.