- For higher-risk regionsIncluding the Indian subcontinent, most of Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea
- Injection from 5, capsules from 6The NSW minimum ages for typhoid vaccines given by a pharmacist
- Not a funded vaccineNeither the National Immunisation Program nor NSW pays for typhoid vaccination
What typhoid is and who catches it
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection spread mainly through food and water contaminated with faeces. It is rare in Australia, and most cases diagnosed here were picked up overseas. According to NSW Health, people returning to India, Pakistan or Bangladesh to visit friends and relatives are at greatest risk of the disease. Outside travel, the Handbook also recommends typhoid vaccine for military personnel and for laboratory workers who handle the bacterium.
Planning several vaccines at once? Our travel vaccinations page brings the whole list together.
Choosing your typhoid vaccine
- Injectable typhoid vaccine: one injection, which NSW pharmacists can give from age 5. People with ongoing exposure, such as long-term travellers, are advised to repeat it every 3 years.
- Oral typhoid capsules: a course of 3 or 4 capsules over about a week, for people aged 6 and over. Four doses may give better protection than three.
The capsules hold a live, weakened strain of the bacterium. The Handbook says they are not for pregnant women, people with a weakened immune system or anyone taking antibiotics, and some antimalarial tablets can also stop them working. The pharmacist will check which form suits you and explain how to take the capsules.
Why food and water care still counts
Vaccination lowers the risk without removing it. The Handbook reports that, in travellers to endemic regions, the injection's effectiveness was estimated at 65% over 3 years. No vaccine specifically targets paratyphoid, a closely related infection. Good food and water hygiene covers the gap, and it matters most for children under 2, who are not recommended to have any typhoid vaccine:
- drink bottled or boiled water, use it to brush your teeth, and skip ice
- avoid raw shellfish, salads and cold meats
- choose hot food that has been cooked through and is served hot
- wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before eating and after the toilet
Symptoms after you get home
Typhoid symptoms usually start 8 to 14 days after infection, though they can show up as late as 60 days. Watch for a prolonged fever, sweating, a severe headache, stomach pain, and diarrhoea or constipation. Left untreated, typhoid can be fatal, so see a doctor promptly and say where you travelled.
Typhoid questions
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis A and typhoid together?
Yes. The Handbook lists a combined vaccine covering both as an option for people aged 16 and over going somewhere both diseases are a risk. Our hepatitis A and B vaccine page covers the hepatitis side.
Can I have it at the same visit as other travel vaccines?
The injectable form can be given before, after or alongside other travel vaccines, such as oral cholera or yellow fever. Let us know what else is booked so the timing works.
Does it cause side effects?
Serious reactions are very rare. After the injection, a sore, red or swollen arm is common, and a few people get a fever, nausea or feel unwell for a short time.
Need protection against something besides typhoid? Every vaccine we give appears on the vaccination services page.
Get protected before you pack
Visit Abermain Chemist on a weekday during store hours. Tell the pharmacist your destination and whether you would rather have the injection or the capsules.