Vaccinating Against Typhoid

Typhoid fever is a severe bacterial infection spread through water or food contaminated with human waste. Over 21 million people are stricken with typhoid fever annually, resulting in at least 200,000 deaths per year, predominantly among school-age and preschool-age children in many areas.

In populations without access to safe water and basic sanitation, typhoid vaccination can help reduce this gap in equity by delivering a safe, effective and cost-effective way to control typhoid, and can complement safe water and sanitation interventions. Two typhoid vaccines are available internationally and both are considered safe and effective.

Geographical distribution of typhoid fever

CDC’s work to vaccinate against typhoid

• Active member of the Coalition Against Typhoid
• Active member of the Typhoid Surveillance in Sub-Saharan Africa Project
• Evaluation of the impact of a mass typhoid fever vaccination campaign in Fiji
• Investigate typhoid fever outbreak and response in several countries, including Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
• Conduct initial studies to assess the acceptance of and demand for cholera vaccine in Malawi and Uganda

Additional resources

• Recent Publications:
  • Vaccination for typhoid fever in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Population-based incidence of typhoid fever in an urban informal settlement and a rural area in Kenya: implications for typhoid vaccine use in Africa
  • Impact of a Targeted Typhoid Vaccination Campaign Following Cyclone Tomas, Republic of Fiji, 2010
  • Formative Investigation of Acceptability of Typhoid Vaccine during a Typhoid Fever Outbreak in Neno District, Malawi
  • Typhoid Fever Surveillance and Vaccine Use — South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions, 2009-2013
• Check out the Coalition Against Typhoid for more technical resources.