Sanofi Pasteur MSD has voluntarily recalled 16 batches of  Typhim Vi® typhoid vaccine due to concerns about the effectiveness of some of  the vaccines. These batches were distributed from 7 January 2011.

There is no safety concern regarding the recalled vaccines,  and revaccination is not recommended.

Typhoid is transmitted via contaminated food and water. No typhoid vaccine is 100% effective, therefore all travellers are advised to follow strict food and water hygiene advice.

Follow this guidance to reduce your risk of illness:

• Don’t drink or clean your teeth with tap water.
• Drink bottled or boiled water only. Check the seals of bottled water have not been tampered with.
•  Use chlorine water purification tablets as an alternative where boiling is not possible, as they kill most bacteria and viruses.
• Be careful what you eat. Foods that carry a higher risk of illness include: salad, raw fruit and vegatables, unpasteurised dairy products, reheated food, undercooked or raw shellfish, take aways and street food and food that has been allowed to sit around at room temperature.
• Carry an alcohol hand gel to use if you can not wash your hands.

If you feel unwell on your return from a trip to a typhoid risk area, be alert to symptoms of typhoid and see your doctor immediately if you feel ill with any of the following symptoms:

Typhoid can be a mild, flu-like illness. Most people get a fever and a headache.

Symptoms appear about a week after you have eaten or drunk something contaminated with the bacteria and include:

• A rose coloured body rash.

• Chills and muscle aches.

• Stomach pain with constipation or diarrhoea.

• Loss of appetite

• Sickness

If you feel unwell after a trip abroad please contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647

Should I have another typhoid vaccine?

There is currently a UK shortage of injectable typhoid vaccine so re-vaccination is not recommended. If you are a frequent traveller to high risk areas you may want to have the oral typhoid vaccine which is currently still available. It is taken in tablet form over 5 days and costs £30 per dose. Supplies will be limited and re-vaccination is not recommended if you are not at risk of typhoid exposure.

To book a typhoid vaccine please call 01273 749100.
Please note due to the large number of people affected by this vaccine recall Sussex Travel Clinic is unable to answer calls regarding the above information.

We will shortly be contacting anyone who has been given the recalled typhoid vaccine in our clinic by email or letter with further advice.

If you require further information please visit the HPA website.

 

TYPHOID VACCINE

Our supplier Sanofi Pasteur has informed us that currently they are out of stock of injectable typhoid vaccine and will be until January 2013. Sussex Travel Clinic is offering the Oral Typhoid Vaccine Vivotif as an alternative during this time.

Vivotif is taken on day 0, day 2, and day 5. Cost – £30 per course.

Vivotif is a live vaccine but can be given with other live vaccines and does not need to be separated by 4 weeks like other live vaccines do.

RABIES VACCINE

Both UK suppliers of rabies vaccine Novartis and Sanofi Pasteur are  currently out of stock of rabies vaccine and normal supplies will not start until November 2012.

Sussex Travel Clinic have made the decision to administer rabies vaccine intraderamally(ID) to ensure our rabies supply lasts through the shortage period.

ID Rabies is given on day 0, 7 and 21 or 28.

Please note: Rabies vaccine administered by ID technique should only be administered by those trained in ID technique. All nurses at Sussex Travel Clinic are trained to give ID injections.

FLU VACCINATIONS

Sussex Travel Clinic now has flu vaccines in stock for those not eligible for an NHS flu vaccine. Cost £18

We also offer an onsite flu vaccine service for businesses with 10 or more employees.

To Book please call 01273 749100 or use our ONLINE booking via our website.

Sussex Travel Clinic now has injectable typhoid vaccine back in stock. Over the past few months there have been supply problems with injectable typhoid vaccine in the UK. Manufacturers Sanofi Pasteur have now confirmed that injectable typhoid vaccine is now available.

During the time that injectable typhoid vaccine was not available Sussex Travel Clinic offered the oral typhoid vaccine to travellers that needed protection. The clinic now has adequate supplies of both the oral and injectable vaccines. Oral typhoid vaccine is taken in tablet form over a period of five days and is ideal for those that are needle phobic.

To discuss further please call the clinic on 01273 749100 or book an appointment online.