Vaccination Services - Typhoid

Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection that is rare in Australia but common in parts of the world Australians love to visit, especially the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. If your trip takes you there, the typhoid vaccine is often recommended.

What is typhoid, and the vaccine?

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria, spread through contaminated food and water. It causes high fever, headache, abdominal pain, and can become serious without treatment. It is associated with areas that have limited access to safe water and sanitation. The typhoid vaccine reduces your risk, and is a common travel vaccine for higher-risk destinations. It comes as an injection (and, less commonly, an oral form), giving protection for a few years.

Who is it for?

Typhoid vaccine is mainly for travellers to regions where typhoid is common, particularly the Indian subcontinent (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) and parts of Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, especially for longer stays, visiting friends and relatives, or trips with less control over food and water. It is generally a private (paid) travel vaccine. Your destination, length of stay, and activities determine whether it is recommended; a pharmacist or travel clinic can advise.

Getting it at a pharmacy

Trained pharmacist immunisers commonly provide typhoid vaccination as part of travel health services. The pharmacist reviews your itinerary and history, administers the vaccine, observes you for around 15 minutes, and records it on the Australian Immunisation Register. Typhoid is often given alongside hepatitis A (and there is even a combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine), since the two share food-and-water transmission. Mention your departure date so timing is right.

The vaccine is not the whole story

Importantly, the typhoid vaccine is not 100% effective, and it does not protect against the many other food-and-water illnesses travellers can catch. So safe food and water practices remain essential: drink safe (bottled or properly treated) water, be careful with ice, raw foods, and street food, and wash or sanitise hands. Think of the vaccine as one layer of protection on top of good food hygiene, not a substitute for it. A pharmacist can also set you up with a travel kit for stomach upsets.

Safety

Typhoid vaccine has a strong safety record, with mild, short-lived side effects such as a sore arm, headache, or low fever being most common. Tell the pharmacist about severe allergies, past reactions, pregnancy, or a weakened immune system.

How it’s regulated in Australia

Typhoid vaccine is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and is generally a private travel vaccine. Pharmacist immunisers administer it under state and territory rules and record doses on the Australian Immunisation Register, guided by the Australian Immunisation Handbook and Smartraveller.

Official sources

• Healthdirect: typhoid
• Smartraveller: before you go (health)

Heading to a higher-risk region? Combine the vaccine with good food-and-water habits. Use the button below to find a pharmacy offering typhoid vaccination near you.