Who should get typhoid vaccine in India?

With our poor sanitation and general hygiene, it is best that every Indian is regularly immunized against typhoid. The typhoid vaccine is only partly efficacious and offers protection in only about 70% of individuals. So, there is no substitute for common sense measures to avoid getting infected with the typhoid bacilli in the first place.

When should my son receive his first vaccine?

In India, only the injectable form of typhoid vaccine is available. It is given as a single shot after the child is two years old. The immunity provided by the vaccine starts one-week post-injection and continues for a period of three years. After this, the individual must receive another dose, which is repeated every three years.

My child had typhoid fever recently and has since recovered. When should he be immunized?

If the child has not received the vaccine within the past three years, the child should be immunized four weeks after recovery from the illness.

What are the side effects of the vaccine?

Vaccines, like any other drug, have the potential to cause side effects. Fortunately, almost all of them are very mild and consist of fever, headache, and redness and swelling and soreness at the site of injection in between 3% – 7% of people who receive the vaccination. Very rarely, the child may exhibit an allergic reaction, manifesting as hives, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, or wheezing. If these were to happen, you must rush your child to the hospital immediately. Please bear in mind that these are extreme exceptions, and the risk of being seriously sick or even dying of typhoid is fairly high in our country, so please ensure that all in your house are vaccinated against typhoid and that this happens every three years.