Travel Clinic
Typhoid Vaccination
Commonly recommended alongside hepatitis A, particularly for travel to South Asia.
- Dose
- Single injection
- Protection
- About 3 years
- Age
- From 2 years of age
- Timing
- Have it 2 weeks before travel
About this service
Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection linked to contaminated food and water, and vaccination is commonly discussed with travellers visiting South Asia. At Berkeley Pharmacy, our travel clinic starts with your itinerary rather than a standard checklist. We look at where you are going, how long you will be away and how you will be staying, then explain whether typhoid vaccination is appropriate for you.
The risk is particularly relevant for people visiting friends and relatives, backpackers, volunteers and long-stay travellers, especially where they will eat home-prepared food or stay with local families. We welcome people from Berkeley, Dursley, Cam, Stroud, Thornbury and Wotton-under-Edge, and can often plan a typhoid appointment alongside hepatitis A and other travel health advice.
What typhoid is and how vaccination helps
Typhoid is a bacterial infection caught from food and water contaminated with Salmonella Typhi. It causes a prolonged high fever, headache, tummy pain, constipation or diarrhoea and general exhaustion, and can be serious if untreated. The risk is highest in South Asia, particularly India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, and it also occurs in South East Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America.
People visiting friends and relatives are at higher risk than typical tourists, because they are more likely to eat home-prepared food and stay longer. The injectable vaccine is a single dose, ideally given at least two weeks before travel, and gives protection for about three years. It is licensed from two years of age. The vaccine is not fully protective, so careful food and water hygiene remains essential even after vaccination. Typhoid is often given at the same appointment as hepatitis A, and combined formulations exist.
Who typhoid vaccination is for
Suitable for
- Travellers to South Asia, South East Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America
- People visiting friends and relatives in their country of origin
- Backpackers, volunteers and long-stay travellers
- Anyone staying in rural areas or with local families
- Travellers whose last typhoid vaccination was more than three years ago
Not suitable for
- Children under two years for the injectable vaccine
- Anyone with a previous severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or its ingredients
- Anyone currently unwell with a high temperature, who should wait until better
- People vaccinated within the last three years who are not yet due
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
We begin with a full travel health risk assessment covering your destination, length of stay, accommodation and who you are staying with. This matters because the same country can present different risks depending on your plans, and because visiting friends and relatives can involve longer stays and different food and water arrangements.
We then review your vaccination history and give a clear explanation of which vaccinations your trip needs, and which it does not. If typhoid vaccination is suitable, we give the injection into your upper arm, often at the same visit as hepatitis A, and talk through food and water hygiene advice for your destination.
- A written record and, with your consent, a note to your GP
- Advice about timing, including the aim of having the injection two weeks before travel
- A chance to ask questions about typhoid, hepatitis A and the rest of your travel plans
Aftercare and staying safe abroad
A sore arm, mild headache and slight temperature are common after typhoid vaccination and usually settle within a day or two. Rest, drink fluids and contact us if a reaction worries you. The vaccine does not give complete protection, so continue to be careful about food and water throughout your trip.
Drink bottled, boiled or treated water, avoid ice and uncooked salads, peel fruit yourself and eat food that is freshly and thoroughly cooked. Note the date your next dose would be due, about three years from now. See a doctor promptly for a persistent fever during or after travel, and tell them where you have been.
- Keep your vaccination record somewhere safe with your travel documents
- Continue careful food and water hygiene even when you have been vaccinated
- Call us on 01453 810316 if you have questions before or after your trip
Frequently asked questions
How long before travel should I have the typhoid vaccine?
The injectable typhoid vaccine is ideally given at least two weeks before travel, allowing time for protection to develop. If you are travelling sooner, please still contact us, as we can discuss your itinerary and the options available.
How long does typhoid protection last?
Protection from the injectable typhoid vaccine lasts for about three years. We will record the date of your vaccination and can help you work out when a further dose may be due for a future trip.
Do I need typhoid vaccination for India?
Typhoid risk is particularly relevant in India and elsewhere in South Asia, but the right advice depends on your accommodation, length of stay, activities and who you are staying with. We assess your individual plans rather than assuming every traveller needs the same vaccinations.
Is there a tablet version instead of an injection?
There are different typhoid vaccine formulations, and the suitable option depends on your age, health, travel plans and timing. We will explain the options available during your travel health assessment and advise whether vaccination is appropriate for you.
Does the vaccine mean I can relax about food and water?
No. The typhoid vaccine is not fully protective, so careful food and water hygiene remains essential. Drink bottled, boiled or treated water, avoid ice and uncooked salads, peel fruit yourself and eat food that is freshly and thoroughly cooked.
Can I have typhoid and hepatitis A at the same time?
Yes, typhoid is often given at the same appointment as hepatitis A when both are suitable. We will review your vaccination history and travel plans, then explain which vaccinations your trip needs and how to time them.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
Related services
Other services you may be interested in at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Hepatitis A Vaccination
One of the most commonly recommended travel vaccinations, and one of the easiest to arrange before you go.
Find out more Travel ClinicCholera Vaccination
An oral vaccine for travellers heading to areas where cholera is a genuine risk, such as aid work, disaster relief or remote travel.
Find out more Travel ClinicTravellers’ Diarrhoea Treatment
The illness most likely to spoil your trip, and a standby pack so you are not searching for a pharmacy abroad.
Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about typhoid vaccination
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed