small font | large font

To print PDF version, click here.

Typhoid Vaccine (Vivotif Capsules)

What is typhoid fever?

• Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria.
• It is spread by eating or drinking food or water

   contaminated with human feces. It occurs often in

   situations where there is a breakdown in good sanitation.
• Symptoms include sudden fever, severe headache,

   nausea, loss of appetite, rose spots on the trunk (25%),

   sore throat with a non-productive cough and constipation.
• If untreated, 16% of people with typhoid fever can die.

   With proper treatment, 1% will die.
• Between 2-5% of people with typhoid fever become

   carriers.

What does typhoid vaccine (capsules) contain?

• Live attenuated strain salmonella typhi Ty21a.
• Typhoid vaccine contains lactose, yeast, casein, dextrose,

   galactose, sucrose ascorbic acid, amino acids, magnesium

   stearate, and gelatin.

Who should receive the vaccine?

• Travellers 6+ years where typhoid is common, especially

   if:

         - staying for more than 4 weeks
         - eating adventurously
         - visiting smaller or rural areas.

• People with ongoing household or intimate exposure to

   carriers of the bacteria.
• Laboratory workers who frequently handle Salmonella

   typhi cultures.

Who should not receive the vaccine?

• Children under 6 years of age (safety is unknown).
• People with a life-threatening allergy to any of the vaccine

   components or the capsule.
• People with acute gastrointestinal disease or chronic

   inflammatory bowel disease.
• Pregnant women.
• Use with caution in breastfeeding women; no safety data

   available.
• People with lowered immune response due to disease or

   drug and radiation therapy.
• Postpone the vaccine if persistent diarrhea or vomiting.
• People with moderate to severe illness may have to delay

   immunization..

When should the vaccine be given?

• Use as follows:
   - Transport vaccine home to your fridge as soon as

     possible. Store in central part of the fridge.
   - take on day 1, 3, 5 and 7. If you miss a dose for more

     than 24 hours, please call the number below – you may

     need to repeat the series.
   - take with cold or lukewarm water.
   - do not chew; swallow capsule whole.
   - take on an empty stomach, two hours after eating. Wait

     one hour before eating or drinking anything, including

     gum or candy.
   - take at least one week prior to travel.
   - wait at least 4 to 7 days before or after antibiotic or

     sulfonamide therapy.
   - after last dose wait 7 days before taking doxycycline

     (anti-malarials).
   - separate this vaccine and oral cholera vaccine by at

     least 8 hours.
   - administer proguanil at least 10 days or more after the

     last dose of this vaccine.

How is the vaccine given?

• Orally

How effective is typhoid vaccine?

• About 51% of people who receive 3 doses of vaccine are

   protected one week after the final dose.

How long does the protection last?

• At least 7 years.

What might be felt after receiving typhoid vaccine?

• Abdominal pain (6%), nausea (5%), diarrhea (3%),

   vomiting (2%)
• Headache (5%)
• Fever (3%)
• Skin rash (1%)
• Call the number below if you have severe or unusual

   reactions.

For more information contact Public Health Services at (306) 655-4780.

Your immunization information will be recorded in a computerized system known as the Saskatchewan Immunization Management Systems (SIMS).

Information collected in SIMS may be used to:
• manage immunization records
• notify you if you or your child needs an immunization
• and monitor how well vaccines work in preventing vaccine preventable diseases.

Your immunization records may also be shared with health care professionals in order to provide public health services; assist with diagnosis and treatment; and to control the spread of vaccine preventable diseases.

©2008, Saskatoon Health Region.  Reproduced only by permission.

(Updated March 3, 2009)