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More Information about Hepatitis and Typhoid Vaccinations

Hepatitis A vaccination

Hepatitis A or "yellow jaundice" (fact sheet) is a liver disease generally contracted by virus contaminated water or food in an endemic area. Immunisation is recommended for travel to all warm countries including Africa, Asia (except Japan), parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Middle East. Two shots are required at 0 and 6 months. It makes sense to take advantage of the combined typhoid-hepatitis A vaccine for the first shot as typhoid is spread in similar areas by the same means. The second shot is given either separately or combined with the third dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine (Twinrix).

Hepatitis B vaccination (adult)

Hepatitis B (fact sheet) is relatively uncommon in the UK, but we advise all adults who are not already immune to consider getting vaccinated, particularly if travelling abroad or if they have had or are considering having intimate contact with a positive carrier or person of unknown status. The course consists of three injections (the first and last of which may be combined with the Hepatitis A vaccine) at 0, 1 and 6 months. This should provide lasting immunity up to 10 years, but boosters may be required if antibody response after the last vaccination is poor. Note that this vaccination is not recommended for administration during pregnancy; however, during this time immunoglobulin injections can be given to protect after a high risk exposure. Information about Hepatitis B vaccinations in children can be found on the British Medical Association website.

Typhoid vaccination

Generally typhoid is not a disease that is contracted in developed countries. However, if travelling to areas where the disease is endemic and the water and food supplies unregulated, typhoid is a real danger. Vaccination can help prevent infection or make the disease milder than it otherwise would have been, but is not a substitute for being careful about the water you drink, washing hands after going to the toilet and before eating, or the food you eat. One dose of the injectable (inactivated) vaccine normally lasts for 2 to 3 years and mild soreness at the site is the only frequent side effect. The modern vaccine is quite different from the extremely painful and reactive vaccines that used to be given in the past. A (live) oral vaccine has been developed but has been withdrawn for the meantime due to problems experienced with it, so is not currently available at Doctor Today. Further general information about typhoid is available from the Centre for Disease Control website.

Please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@doctortoday.co.uk or call us on 020 7433 1444 if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment for a vaccination.