Travel vaccines offer good protection from many of the diseases, such as typhoid, that you may be unlucky enough to encounter when travelling – as long as you support them with habits like food hygiene and drinking only safe water.
But vaccines don’t take full effect immediately. Most vaccines are effective only after a short period, which varies from product to product. That’s why we recommend that you see a travel health adviser six to eight weeks before your departure date.
It’s quick and easy to make an appointment at our travel clinic in Calgary. You won’t have to wait long as we have plenty of travel health advisers waiting to see you before your trip abroad. We have plenty of appointments, including slots early and late in the day for your convenience.
When should I get vaccinated against typhoid fever?
There are various choices of typhoid vaccine, and you’ll need to take them in advance of your departure. The best time to get vaccinated against typhoid depends on which vaccine you are having. So, we ask you to check in with a travel health adviser when planning your trip abroad. Come and see us six to eight weeks before travel to ensure you get the best protection from all your vaccines.
What is typhoid?
Typhoid is a distressing GI illness caused by Salmonella bacteria. Most cases of typhoid in Canada occur in returning travellers, who have been exposed to the bacteria in developing countries. Exposure is often from food and water that have been contaminated with sewage.
Typhoid is infectious, so if you have it, you can make others unwell.
The symptoms of typhoid include a high fever and GI issues like diarrhea or constipation. Some people get very sick from typhoid, and the illness can last a long time so that you must take time off work.
Returning travellers should treat any high fever with suspicion. See your usual healthcare provider, and let them know that you’ve been abroad. This information will help them to make an accurate diagnosis.
Typhoid is vaccine preventable
The good news is that typhoid can be prevented with a vaccine. There are several different versions of the typhoid vaccine available: you can have it as an injection; or you can take tablets. You can also get vaccinated against typhoid in combination with hepatitis A.
Who is at risk from typhoid?
The travellers who are most at risk of exposure to typhoid include people visiting Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Central and South America. People visiting friends and relatives are more likely to catch typhoid, too, as they are more at risk from food- and water-borne diseases.
Anyone with a weakened immune system is at a greater than usual risk from typhoid while abroad.
Here is some information about typhoid from the Government of Canada.
Where can I learn more about food safety and safe drinking water?
We have some articles to help travellers improve their food and water hygiene practices. Learn more about how to eat safely while travelling. And learn more about accessing clean drinking water while abroad.
Which travel vaccines do I need for my trip abroad?
Every traveller and every trip is different, which is why we prefer to tailor a bespoke package of vaccine recommendations and travel health advice for each of our clients. To find out which vaccines you should get ahead of your trip abroad, make an appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics.
What if I’m travelling sooner than six weeks?
If you’re travelling in an emergency, please make an appointment at one of our clinics as soon as possible. We can still help you with travel health advice at our travel clinic in Calgary if you’re travelling in the next few days; and we can administer some vaccines on an accelerated schedule, too. Even partial protection is better than no protection at all.