Typhoid vaccine
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The injectable typhoid vaccination can be given during pregnancy.
What is typhoid?
Typhoid is a potentially serious illness that is caught through contaminated food and drink and is linked to poor sanitation.
During pregnancy, your risk of catching typhoid, as well as complications from the infection are increased. Typhoid in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage.
Typhoid is common in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Vaccination is therefore usually recommended before you travel to these regions.
Benefits
What are the benefits of typhoid vaccination in pregnancy?
Typhoid vaccines reduce your risk of catching typhoid and help protect you and your baby from complications of the infection.
Because vaccination against typhoid does not fully protect you from catching the illness, it is important that you still take strict precautions to avoid contact with contaminated food and water. This includes drinking only bottled water, avoiding ice in drinks, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself, choosing freshly cooked hot foods, and washing your hands frequently.
Risks
What are the risks of typhoid vaccination during pregnancy?
There are no known safety concerns with receiving the injectable typhoid vaccine during pregnancy.
An oral typhoid vaccine in capsule form is also available. This tends to be avoided during pregnancy as it is a live vaccine, whereas the injectable typhoid vaccine is not live. There are theoretical concerns that adverse effects from live vaccines may be more common during pregnancy.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to typhoid vaccination in pregnancy?
If you cannot avoid travelling to a region where typhoid is common, you are advised to have a typhoid vaccination to help protect you and your baby from infection and its complications.
No treatment
What if I don’t want to be vaccinated against typhoid in pregnancy?
Catching typhoid in pregnancy can lead to pregnancy complications and serious illness. There is no evidence that the injectable vaccine causes harm. If you choose not to be vaccinated, you should avoid travel to areas with a high risk of typhoid. If travel cannot be avoided, vaccination is strongly recommended as there are clear benefits to both you and your baby. Your doctor or midwife will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
Pregnant women in the UK are offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care. Vaccination against typhoid in pregnancy is not expected to cause problems that would require any extra monitoring of your baby.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has been vaccinated against typhoid?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father received a typhoid vaccination around the time of conception.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.