Typhoid Vaccine

If you are traveling to South-East or South-Central Asia, then it is recommended that you receive the Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid Fever is passed through food and water contaminated by feces of a person who is infected with the disease. Proper food handling has reduced the incidences of the infection, but certain countries have lax standards, which have facilitated the spread of Typhoid. Thus, you should check to see if a Typhoid vaccine is recommended for the region to which you are traveling.

Typhoid is a disease marked by high fever, sweating, diarrhea, and sometimes a rash. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal. According to the CDC, travelers should receive the immunization 2 weeks prior to traveling for it to be effective. The Typhoid vaccine is effective for preventing Typhoid fever, but not 100% so; thus, travelers are highly encouraged to carefully monitor their eating and drinking.

The Typhoid vaccine is administered either by injection or orally. It is safe but can cause generally mild reactions, including fever, headache, and redness at the injection site. Rarely, gastrointestinal difficulties, including vomiting, can occur. People with weakened immune systems or who have had a previous reaction the Typhoid vaccine should not receive the vaccine.