What Should I Do If I Have Side Effects From Typhoid Vaccine
It is important to recognize typhoid vaccineassociated side effects and know what action to take. See the table below.
Severe side effects from typhoid vaccine | Minor side effects from typhoid vaccine |
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Call 911 immediately if you have:
* If you have a vaccine-related injury, call 1-800-338-2382 for compensation. |
Usually minor side effects include fever, hives, headache, and mild fatigue. They tend to resolve in one or two days and do not require any medical attention.Drink water and take over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, Advil, or Benadryl as needed.*Call us at 212-696-5900 or call your primary care physician if symptoms do not resolve within 48 hours. |
Booster Doses Of Vivotif
The product information for Vivotif Oral live attenuated vaccine recommends a booster every 3 years.
For people at ongoing risk of typhoid fever, ATAGI also recommends revaccination with a 3- or 4-dose course of the oral live attenuated vaccine 3 years after a 3-dose course, or 5 years after a 4-dose course.
Attenuated S Typhi Strain Ty21a As A Live Oral Vaccine
Ty21a was derived from wild-type strain Ty2 by treatment with the mutagenic agent nitrosoguanidine.190 A mutant was selected that exhibited a complete absence of activity of the enzyme uridine diphosphate -galactose-4-epimerase and a reduction of approximately 80% in the activity of two other Leloir enzymes, galactokinase and galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase. A further mutant was then selected that lacked the Vi antigen. This strain was designated Ty21a.190
For many years it was thought that the galE and Vi mutations together accounted for the impressive in vivo safety of Ty21a. In the light of more recent data, it is now recognized that the galE and Vi mutations in Ty21a do not by themselves explain the attenuation of this strain.177 Other mutations within strain Ty21a that also were induced by the nonspecific chemical mutagenesis contribute importantly to the safety of this oral vaccine strain. One such mutation may be in rpoS , which encodes an RNA polymerase sigma factor this mutation diminishes the ability of the bacteria to survive various stress conditions, including nutrient deprivation.191
Penelope H. Dennehy, … David L. Pugatch, in, 2009
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How Should I Take Typhoid Vaccine
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
The typhoid oral vaccine is given in a set of 4 capsules. Take 1 capsule every other day at the same time of the day, such as when you first wake up.
You will take a capsule every other day for 7 days. You will need to skip a day between capsules. Follow all instructions on the medicine package.
Take this medicine with a full glass of cool or lukewarm water. Avoid very hot or cold water, which could cause the capsule to dissolve too quickly.
Swallow the capsule as quickly as possible after placing it in your mouth.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
Take the capsule on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating. Taking a capsule while there is food in your stomach could destroy the capsule and make the vaccine ineffective.
Take each capsule according to the recommended schedule or this vaccine may not be effective. Plan ahead so that you complete all doses at least 1 week before you enter a typhoid risk area. The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective.
You must keep typhoid vaccine capsules cold. When you receive the capsules, place them in a refrigerator as soon as possible. Keep each capsule in the foil blister pack in the refrigerator until you are ready to take it. Do not allow the capsules to freeze.
Before Taking This Medicine

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to typhoid vaccine in the past, or if you have:
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a fever with any type of infection or illness or
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weak immune system caused by disease or by using certain medicine.
If you have any of these other conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:
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stomach flu or any illness with vomiting or diarrhea
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if you are taking an antibiotic, especially a sulfa drug or
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if you plan to start taking anti-malaria medicine within 10 days after receiving a typhoid oral vaccine.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
It is not known whether typhoid vaccine will harm an unborn baby. However, if you are at a high risk for infection with typhoid fever during pregnancy, your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine.
It may not be safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using typhoid vaccine , oral. Ask your doctor about any risks.
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Who Should Not Get Typhoid Vaccine Or Should Wait
Inactivated typhoid vaccine
- Should not be given to children younger than 2 years of age.
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose.
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of this vaccine should not get it. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.
Live typhoid vaccine
- Should not be given to children younger than 6 years of age.
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose.
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of this vaccine should not get it. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the vaccine is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting it. Tell your doctor if you have an illness involving vomiting or diarrhea.
- Anyone whose immune system is weakened should not get this vaccine. They should get the typhoid shot instead. This includes anyone who: has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids for 2 weeks or longer, has any kind of cancer, or is taking cancer treatment with radiation or drugs.
- Oral typhoid vaccine should not be given until at least 3 days after taking certain antibiotics.
How Long Before I Travel Should I Get A Typhoid Vaccination
Ideally, the injectable typhoid vaccine should be given at least two weeks before departure. The oral vaccine is given in the form of four capsules , and the last should be ingested at least a week before departure. You will develop partial protection if either type is administered closer to your departure date.
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Typhoid Vaccine Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Becoming infected with typhoid fever is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Common side effects include:
How Can I Reduce My Chances Of Getting Typhoid
The best way to prevent typhoid infection is to get vaccinated. You may try to protect yourself from this infection by doing the following:
- Wash your hands with soap often
- Drink safe, adequately chlorinated water
- Eat at reputable places
- Eat food while it is still hot or boil or cook what you drink and eat for at least one minute at 185 °F
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Yellow Fever And Typhoid Vaccine Together
Getting conflicting advice on this one…anyone have any thoughts? Has done it? TY!
Conflicting advice from who, especially from what authorities ? What advice? Is it about administering both vaccines together or not? Please edit your question to make it clearer.
Also, where are you getting your vaccinations? They should know.
Edited: 4 years ago
Done in March, no problems. Y.F, Typhus and A Hepatytis together. Vaccines administered by doctor. Y.F. and
Hepatytis by injection, Typhus oral vaccine.
I just got my Typhoid Shot. Can I get my Yellow Fever shot 3 days later?
You should have asked your doctor or travel specialist that when you had your typhoid. I would recontact that professional and get their advice rather then nonprofessional opinions on here
You really need to speak to a doctor. In general, sometimes vaccinations are staged because your immune system has to respond and make antibodies. If you challenge the body with too many different vaccines at once, it cannot respond effectively. The waiting period of 6-8 weeks between vaccinations is to allow sufficient level of antibodies to be made. Three days is certainly too soon, but your doctor should have told you that.
OK, I take back what I just said above. Here’s the CDC info on typhoid. It states that the vaccines are safe to be given with other vaccines. But I would still ask my doctor first.
Removed on
Ty21a Live Oral Vaccine
Ty21a provides significant protection and appears to be quite safe.121,149,245,279,280,382 Results of three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that used active surveillance methods to assess the reactogenicity of Ty21a in adults and children are shown in Table 61.14. Surveillance methods to assess the reactogenicity of Ty21a in adults and children are shown in Table 61.14. The rates of adverse reactions in the vaccine recipients were not significantly higher than those for the placebo group for any symptom or sign. In large-scale field trials with Ty21a, involving approximately 550,000 schoolchildren in Chile and 32,000 schoolchildren in Egypt, and approximately 20,000 subjects ranging in age from 3 years to adulthood in Indonesia, passive surveillance failed to identify vaccine-related adverse reactions.121,124,218,230,245,383
Rick D. Kellerman MD, inConn’s Current Therapy 2021, 2021
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Concurrent Administration With Other Vaccines
The administration of oral cholera and travellers diarrhea vaccine and Typh-O vaccine capsules should be separated by at least 8 hours Typh-O vaccine can be given concomitantly with or at any time before or after any parenteral vaccine. There is no known interaction between Typh-I vaccine and other travel vaccines, such as hepatitis A vaccine, yellow fever vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine.
Refer to Timing of Vaccine Administration in Part 1 for additional information about concurrent administration of vaccines.
Who Cannot Get A Typhoid Vaccination

It is important to know that both the oral and injectable forms of the typhoid vaccine are safe and effective. However, typhoid vaccine should not be given to the following groups of people:
- People who are allergic to it
- People who are taking antibiotics or malaria medications
- People with weakened immunity
- Pregnant women
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Who Should Be Immunised Against Typhoid
Travellers to areas where typhoid is a problem should be immunised, particularly where hygiene and sanitation are poor. The worst affected areas are Asia, Africa and Central and South America, so you should be immunised if visiting these countries, especially if you are visiting friends and relatives. Vaccination may not be needed for short stays if you stay in good accommodation . Your GP or practice nurse can advise if you should be immunised against typhoid for your travel destination.
People who handle specimens which may contain typhoid bacteria should also be immunised.
You can find out if immunisation against typhoid is recommended for any countries you are planning to visit from the NHS website Fitfortravel.
Typhoid Vaccine In Children
Most studies of vaccination against typhoid fever have focused on adult participants, despite the considerable morbidity in children from this infection. Recently, a Phase 3 trial of tetanus-toxoid conjugated Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine was conducted in Nepal.1 In this high incidence population, the vaccine was shown to have 80% protection againstSalmonella typhi infection in children 9 months to 16 years of age, with a comparable adverse events profile to the control group, which received a capsular group A meningococcal conjugate vaccine. This study provides direct evidence of a conjugated Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccine conferring protection in a high-risk pediatric population, extending the results of its efficacy in adult populations.
Myron M. Levine, in, 2008
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Typhoid Fever In Australia
Fewer than 150 cases of typhoid fever are typically reported in Australia each year. Most cases are in people who have travelled to regions with endemic disease.10,11 In 2014, 119 cases of typhoid fever were notified in Australia, and 92% of these cases were acquired overseas.11
In developed countries, typhoid fever is mainly a travel-related disease. People have a considerably greater risk if they are travelling to the Indian subcontinent than to other regions.11-13
People who travel to endemic regions to visit friends and relatives appear to be at considerably greater risk of acquiring typhoid fever than other travellers.12,13 This group includes immigrants who travel to their former homelands.
Oral Live Attenuated Vaccines
The attenuated non-pathogenic Salmonella Typhi strain Ty21a was derived by chemically attenuating a wild-type strain.
The Salmonella Typhi strain Ty21a cannot be detected in faeces more than 3 days after receiving the vaccine.
The vaccine stimulates: 1
- vigorous secretory intestinal IgA
- cell-mediated immune responses
Clinical trials have been done in several countries with endemic typhoid fever, including Chile, Egypt and Indonesia. The trials used different formulations of the vaccine and a variety of schedules. They revealed varying levels of protection against typhoid fever.1,9
A large clinical trial in more than 200,000 school children compared the efficacy of 2, 3 and 4 doses of enteric-coated oral typhoid vaccine.2 The study showed that 4 doses of the oral typhoid vaccine resulted in a significantly lower typhoid fever incidence than 3 doses.
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How Is Typhoid Vaccine Given
You should receive this vaccine at least 1 to 2 weeks before your scheduled travel or possible exposure to typhoid.
Typhoid vaccine is recommended for adults and children in the following situations:
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people who travel to countries where typhoid fever is common
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people who will have long-term exposure to food or water that may be contaminated with typhoid
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people who live with someone who is a typhoid carrier and
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laboratory workers who may come into contact with Salmonella typhi in a work setting.
This vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor’s office or other clinic setting.
The typhoid vaccine is given as a single injection. A booster dose is then recommended every 2 years during possible exposure to typhoid. Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor’s instructions or the schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Wash your hands often to help prevent typhoid when you are in an area where contamination is possible.
How Many Doses Will I Need
The oral vaccine, Ty21a, consists of four capsules, one of which will be taken every other day. These capsules should be kept refrigerated , and all four doses must be taken to achieve maximum efficacy. Each capsule should be taken with a cool liquid that is no warmer than 98.6° F, approximately one hour before having a meal. This regimen should be completed one week before potential exposure to typhoid. A booster dose will be needed every five years for those who remain at risk.
Primary vaccination with ViCPS consists of one dose that is administered intramuscularly, or directly into a muscle. One dose of this vaccine should be given at or before two weeks before an expected exposure to typhoid for maximum protection. A booster dose of the shot is needed every two years for those who remain at risk.
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Transporting Storing And Handling Vaccines
Transport according to National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5.21 Store at +2°C to +8°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light.
For oral typhoid vaccine, the person to be vaccinated is responsible for the vaccine after they buy it.
Carefully explain:
- how to transport the vaccine from pharmacy to home
- how to store it at home in the refrigerator
Complications Of Typhoid Fever

Complications occur in 1015% of patients. Patients who have been ill for more than 2 weeks tend to develop complications. Important complications include: 9
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- typhoid encephalopathy
Relapse occurs in up to 10% of patients, usually 23 weeks after the initial fever resolves.
Up to 5% of patients with typhoid fever develop chronic asymptomatic biliary carriage of Salmonella Typhi, even after treatment. A chronic carrier is someone who continuously sheds the organism for at least 1 year. Carriers are an important reservoir in endemic areas. They are of public health significance for example, if they work in the food industry. 9
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