Definition – What is the typhoid fever vaccination?
Typhoid vaccination is a method that can protect against infection with the typhoid causing Salmonella. It is not considered a general vaccination in Germany, but is recommended for travel to risk areas. There is a live vaccination, which is taken in the form of a capsule, and a dead vaccination, which is administered with an injection into the muscle. The typhoid fever vaccination does not offer an absolute guarantee, but is effective against the disease in many vaccinated persons.
For this travel region you need a typhoid vaccination
Typhoid vaccination is recommended for areas where the spread of typhoid fever is particularly high. This includes especially countries where hygienic measures are not sufficiently implemented. Typhoid fever is particularly common in Central and South America, but the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia are also affected. Accordingly, a typhoid fever vaccination is recommended in these regions before travel.
Is it a live or dead vaccine?
There is both a live and a dead vaccine for the vaccination against typhoid fever. The live vaccine is a combination of harmless and inactivated live pathogens and is taken as an oral vaccine. The dead vaccine consists of killed pathogen particles and is administered intramuscularly, i.e. into the muscle, with an injection. Which vaccination is better suited depends on various factors. For example, the oral vaccine, i.e. the live vaccine, is less effective for existing digestive problems, as the tablet cannot be properly absorbed in the intestine.
How often must I be vaccinated?
With the dead vaccine, which is administered into the muscle with the help of a syringe, only one single vaccination is required. This offers a vaccination protection of up to 3 years. The live vaccine, on the other hand, which is absorbed into the body in the form of capsules, must be taken several times. The vaccine is taken three times with an interval of 2 days, i.e. on days 1, 3 and 5, thus creating a risk of possible intake errors, so the vaccination schedule should be followed carefully. Even the live vaccine can provide protection for about 3 years.
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