More than 700,000 people recently immunised against typhoid may not have full protection because of a dud vaccine that has now been recalled.
Anyone who has been to a typhoid region of the world and has a fever, abdominal pain and vomiting should contact a healthcare professional.
The manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur MSD has recalled its stock - 16 batches - of Typhim Vi vaccine because tests found some samples were too weak. Anyone immunised with the vaccine since January 2011 could be affected. Officials stress that the vaccine was safe and posed no health threat.
Nathnac say people should not get revaccinated but should take precautions against typhoid when abroad.
Travax say: “Some recipients of vaccine from the affected batches are likely to have attained a normal level of protection and the remainder will have a degree of protection against typhoid”.
TYPHOID
- Typhoid fever is uncommon in the UK
- Typhoid fever is a major problem in the developing world, and is common in Africa and South America, but the greatest risk seems to be on the Indian subcontinent.
- Typhoid is very contagious.
- An infected person can pass the bacteria in their faeces.
- If someone else eats food or drinks water that has been contaminated, they can catch typhoid fever.
- Polluted water is the most common source
It can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early enough.
Supplies of another injectable typhoid vaccine called Typherix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, are unaffected, as are those of an oral typhoid vaccine called Vivotiv.
Vivotiv is available at The Travel clinic in Ipswich and Cambridge