Has anyone ever had a typhoid vaccine? My husband and I are going to Thailand and I know this is a suggested vaccine. I've heard that you get pretty sick after getting it and I'd just like to prepare myself for getting sick from it. Also, any info on any other vaccines would be appreciated.
Thanks!!

Hi Kelly -

I've yet to get a Typhoid innoc even with all my travel - one of these days.

But you should have a Tetanus (lasts 10-yrs) just in case you fall on a rusty nail or dirty something; and Hep A (two shots, second 6-mo to 1-yr after first, last 10-yrs) in case kitchen help hasn't washed hands upon leaving bathroom. Just some ideas of how you can get sick.

Well it's getting close, I'm sure you're both very excited. You'll have a wonderful time.

Typhoid is a food and water borne illness (ever hear of Typhoid Mary?) so you should have the vaccine any time you are traveling to tropical areas. There are two types of typhoid vaccine, one is a shot which lasts two years, the other is an oral vaccine (a series of four pills, I believe) which lasts 5 years. Some people who get the shot do have a localized reaction (pain, swelling) and may not feel well for a day or two. Interestingly, the oral vaccine is much less likely to cause any problems. However, I've never hear of anyone getting "pretty sick" from the shot.

Actually, I'm due for a booster before I head to Asia in November. I've checked and the oral vaccine is available again in the US. (for a time it was not available)

I did the oral vaccine a couple years ago (in Canada). I didn't have any side effects, nor did my husband. Glad we did it, though, as someone we know here in Malaysia just got typhoid. Imagine!

I second Sandi's suggestion - make sure your DPT is up to date, and if you haven't done your Hep A then you may as well do that, too. There is a vaccine that does both Hep A and Hep B that you can do at once if you haven't got either of them. Hep B is harder to catch (basically the same ways you could get HIV), but even though I'm not high risk I feel better knowing I have been vaccinated (in case the dentist/emerg services aren't up to snuff - unlikely, but the possibility is there).

My wife and I are leaving for thailand in 10 days and had the typhoid vaccine shot, polio booster, Hep A booster and DPT booster. I had a slight day only reaction to the DPT, all other shots were fine. Our insurance company charged a $20.00 copay for the Hep A and polio shot. The County Health Clinic (live in New York State) gave us the other two for free. Hope this helps.

Better late than neverI hope! There is no thyphoid vaccine. You can take boosters orally but it won't prevent you from getting thyphoid, just will lessen the severity. I actually had thyphoid once, from a trip to India. You don't want it!!! Take all precautions.

Of course there is typhoid vaccine. As described above, one is a shot, one is an oral vaccine. Both are very effective in preventing typhoid, though it is reasonable to point out that "nothing is 100%." Still, last data I read was that the vaccine was more than 95% effective.

To clarify the typhoid vaccine is not the same as the polio vaccine in that the latter can practically prevent the disease from occuring. Even with "vaccines" you can still get typhoid as opposed to polio. I've known people who have had it twice. Sources I read cite efficacy to about 65%. In any case be sensible with eating and drinking habits. I had the vaccine as a child of course but still got the disease as an adult.

Hubby and I had the typhoid vaccines and had no problems.

Jacketwatch, many vaccines need periodic boosters. If you only had the typhoid vaccine as a child and got typhoid as an adult, that's not a suprise. The typhoid shots are effective for 2 years, the oral vaccine is effective for 5 years. That's why it's important to check to see which booster one needs before travel. Indeed, depending on which type of polio vaccine you had as a child, you may need a booster.

While advising people to be careful what they eat and drink is always good advice, one should still have all the appropriate vaccines. Both typhoid and Hep A are food and water borne illnesses.

Read up on travel vaccines at www.cdc.gov

I can add that I took the typhoid pills and had no reaction to them. Neither did my fiance. The HepA shot went fine, too. The Tetanus booster gave us both incredible soreness for a few days but it's a small price to pay for the protection it offers.

To Kathie: Thanks for the vaccine info. Actually after having been striken with this illness we ALWAYS check with an ID doc. before any trips to India to see what we need. I do know these diseases are water or food borne and in fact have on several occasions have advised people on this forum to look into shots or meds before going to India. On on occasion I even emailed a travel writer for the Chi. Trib. who gave a travel report on her trip to Kerala to point out the need to advise visitors for proper med. precautions. Believe me once was enough! I agree that sensible sanitation and eating habits are not enough. Interestingly one time we were advised to take encephalitis shots due to the health situation there at the time. India is a fascinating place but one has to take appropriate precautions. BTW since you seem to be well versed on this subject do you know if there is a substitute for Lariam now? I have heard it has lost some of its effectiveness vs. certain strains of malaria. Cheers, Larry

Yes, Larry, there is a new anti-malarial on the market, called malarone. It has the fewest side effects of any of the anti-malarials and is effective against the strains that are now resistant to larium (for instance, the Thai/Burma/Cambodia/Laos border area). It is taken daily, beginning one or two days before enrty into the malarial-risk area, and continued daily through the stay in the malarial risk area, and for one weeka aafter leaving the area. The disadvantages of malarone are: it's expensive (though not much more than larium), and it is not available outside of North America, Europe, Australia and Singapore.

The other anit-malarial option is doxycycline, which is inexpensive and readily available in many places without a prescription (such as Thailand). It, too, must be taken daily, and it must be continued for a month after leaving the risk area. It has relatively few side effects, though it does cause sun sensitivity in some people, and can cause vaginal yeast (thrush) infections for some women. On the other hand, it does reduce GI problems.

There has been no documented malarial resistance to either malarone or doxycycline anywhere in the world.

Thank you!

You're welcome.

I should mention that the website I find most helpful on malaria (malarial-risk areas, medication options and instructions for taking medications) is the cdc website: www.cdc.gov/travel

Thanks again. I'll bookmark this site. Cheers, Larry