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Travel vaccines are recommended for people travelling to or working in some countries. It is important to talk to your doctor or visit a travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you leave on a trip. There is a charge for most travel vaccines.
Bring a record of all vaccines you have received in the past to the travel clinic. It is especially important to keep a record of the travel vaccines you receive and take this with you on your trip.
The vaccine helps to protect against typhoid disease, an infection caused by typhoid bacteria. The vaccine is approved by Health Canada.
Typhoid vaccine will give you some protection against the disease. However, it is also very important to have good personal hygiene and to take food and drink precautions.
Persons travelling to or working in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East or Mediterranean for one month or more may need to get the vaccine. You are more likely to be exposed to contaminated food and water in these areas. The travel clinic doctor or nurse will advise if you should receive the vaccine.
The vaccine is also recommended for workers routinely exposed to typhoid bacteria, such as certain researchers and lab employees. The vaccine is also recommended for persons who live in the same house or have sexual contact with a typhoid carrier.
There are two types of typhoid vaccine - oral (by mouth), and injection (by needle).
Oral Typhoid Vaccine – This vaccine is given as a series of doses in capsule form. Finish the series of doses at least one week before you travel.
Adults and children 6 years of age and older are given four doses of the capsule form of vaccine. The vaccine will be given to you to take at home. The travel clinic will provide instructions on how to take the vaccine. It is important to follow the instructions.
Protection against typhoid from the oral vaccine lasts about four years. Consider getting vaccinated again if you continue to travel or work in certain areas.
Who should not get the oral vaccine?
Speak with a doctor or nurse if you have:
Protection against typhoid from the injection vaccine lasts about two years. Consider getting vaccinated again if you continue to travel or work in certain areas
Who should not get the vaccine injection?
Speak with a travel clinic doctor or nurse if you have had a life-threatening
reaction to a previous dose of typhoid vaccine or any component of the vaccine,
or to latex.
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get typhoid.
Reactions are usually mild and temporary to the typhoid vaccine. Possible reactions to the oral vaccine include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever or skin rash. Possible reactions to the injection include soreness, swelling or redness where the shot was given. Fever and headache are also common.
| Acetaminophen or Tylenol® can be given for fever or soreness. ASA or Aspirin® should NOT be given to anyone under 20 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome. |
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after you leave the clinic, call 911 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine. Report serious or unexpected reactions to your public health nurse or doctor.
Typhoid is a serious and life-threatening infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. For every 10 people who get sick, up to two people may die unless they get treatment with antibiotics quickly. Symptoms of infection include high fever, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, dizziness, and a rash. Infection can also cause serious bleeding in the intestine. Symptoms may occur one to three weeks after getting infected.
Salmonella typhi bacteria are carried in the bowel movements (stool) and urine of infected people. People who use the bathroom without proper handwashing can pass the bacteria on to others through food preparation or hand-to-mouth contact. Despite recovering from the illness, some people can be carriers of typhoid bacteria and spread the disease on to others.
Effort is made to seek parental or guardian consent prior to immunization. Children under the age of 19 who are able to understand the risks and benefits may consent to or refuse immunizations, regardless of the parent’s or guardian’s wishes. It is recommended that parents/guardians and their minor children discuss immunizations beforehand, and ask the nurse or doctor any questions.
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