Typhoid fever is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the Salmonella tyhpi bacteria. The illness rarely occurs in the United States, but it still exists in underdeveloped countries like Africa, Asia and Latin America according to the Mayo Clinic. Individuals who plan to travel to an area that is likely to have typhoid fever should receive a vaccine to reduce the risk of infection. However, contraindications, or reasons to avoid the typhoid vaccine, do exist.
Children
Not all children can be given the inactivated typhoid shot or the live typhoid oral vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children should be older than 2 to receive the shot and over 6 to receive the oral vaccine.
Previous Reaction
The typhoid shot requires only one dose but the oral vaccine is given in four doses, two days apart. The CDC recommends a booster shot every two years and a booster oral dose every five. An individual who had a severe reaction, such as an allergic reaction, to the first dose should not receive any additional or booster doses.
Immune System Weakness
Individuals with a weakened immune system should not receive the oral typhoid vaccine. Instead, they can discuss the safety of the shot with a health care provider. This applies to individuals who have HIV, AIDS or any other immune system disease. The CDC also warns individuals who are being treated with drugs, such as steroids, that impact the immune system to avoid the vaccine. Individuals with cancer or who are receiving cancer treatment should not receive the oral vaccine. Antibiotics that have been taken within 24 hours of the oral typhoid vaccine can interfere with the immune system building antibodies to typhoid. For this reason, an individual should not get the oral vaccine shortly after antibiotic treatment.
