With typhoid fever posing a significant risk in endemic regions, Coolangatta Medical Centre provides the necessary vaccinations to residents of Gold Coast, QLD, Australia who are planning on travelling to high-risk areas. With proper vaccination, you can be protected no matter where your travels take you.

What is Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. Usually spread through contaminated food or water, Salmonella Typhi multiplies into the bloodstream of an infected individual, causing life-threatening complications if not treated promptly. Symptoms of typhoid fever commonly include high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, rose spots, and constipation or diarrhoea.

Getting vaccinated, in addition to practising proper hygiene and precautions when consuming food or water, are effective preventive measures against typhoid fever.

Why is Typhoid Vaccination Important in Australia?

While fatalities from typhoid fever have reduced drastically due to improved living conditions and the introduction of antibiotics, the disease continues to be a public health issue in many areas. According to the 2019 data from the World Health Organisation, there are 9 million cases of typhoid fever recorded annually, with 110,000 of them leading to death per year.

In Australia, cases of this disease are rare and usually only occur among people who travel to endemic regions that lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. These regions include Eastern and Southern Asia (Indonesia/Bali, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh), Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Middle East.1 Tourists and humanitarian aid workers deployed to these regions are at higher risk of exposure and are thus highly recommended to receive typhoid fever vaccinations.

Typhoid Vaccination Services at Coolangatta Medical Centre

Make your overseas travels safe and worry-free by getting vaccinated at Coolangatta Medical Centre. Our vaccination clinic is open to provide accessible and comprehensive typhoid fever vaccinations to ensure you have a healthy and enjoyable trip.

The Department of Health and Aged Care recommends the typhoid vaccination for the following individuals:

  • Military personnel
  • Laboratory workers who work with Salmonella Typhi
  • Travellers 2 years old and above who are going to typhoid-endemic regions

Our team of doctors at Coolangatta Medical Centre offer all necessary vaccinations and health advice to keep yourself protected, including typhoid fever, cholera, and COVID-19, as well as personalised health recommendations tailored to your itinerary. Book a consultation with us to discuss your travel plans and plan out your vaccination schedule.

Our Team of GP Doctors

Our team of Travel Doctors in Gold Coast share their expertise in vaccinations required by law for entry to a country as well as the specific precautions needed and the vaccinations recommended for general protection against diseases. Always seek medical advice from travel doctors at least a month before your trip to learn more about the necessary vaccinations required before visiting your destination.

Areas We Serve

Coolangatta Medical Centre offers extensive travel vaccinations and other specialised health services in the following areas:

  • Tweed Heads
  • Tweed Heads South
  • Tweed Heads West
  • Bilinga
  • Cobaki Lakes
  • Tugun

Other Medical Services We Offer:

Coolangatta Medical Centre offers a spectrum of health services designed to ensure your holistic wellness. From preventive care to advanced diagnostics, our team of doctors can address your needs at every level of care.

Payment Methods:

Full fee upfront is payable on the day of your appointment and will be processed with a credit/debit card token provided at the time of booking.

Medicare rebate is processed for you on your behalf by the administration team and will go back into the account that you have nominated with Medicare within 24 to 48 hours. For more information about Medicare rebates, see our FAQs page.

Out of pocket fee is the amount of money that you will be out of pocket after Medicare has processed your rebate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Typhoid & Vaccines

Symptoms of typhoid fever can range from mild to severe and can last for about one month without treatment. Here are some of the most common ones:

  • High fever
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Persistent cough
  • Headache
  • Slower heart rate than usual
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation or diarrhoea
  • Lack of appetite that may cause weight loss
  • Reddened skin rash
  • Confusion or other mental changes
  • Blood poisoning (septicaemia)
  • Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
  • Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)

Typhoid fever can be very serious and may cause severe complications if not treated immediately. In extreme cases, typhoid fever can even lead to death.

Your healthcare provider performs a blood test or stool test to examine if there are Salmonella typhi bacteria present that cause your symptoms. In some cases, a bone marrow sample is tested to make a more accurate typhoid fever diagnosis.

In Australia, there are two types of immunisation available:2

  • Live typhoid vaccine

Administered orally by mouth. It stimulates cell-mediated immune responses, with 4 doses orally administered over seven days resulting in significant typhoid fever incidence.

  • Inactivated typhoid vaccine

Administered as an injection. It shows moderate protection against typhoid fever in clinical trials in endemic regions, with 85–95% of adults and children 2 years of age and above quickly developing anti-Vi antibodies.

The oral vaccine can offer approximately 70% level of protection for up to 1.5 years after vaccination. However, as all vaccines’ level of protection wanes over time, it’s important to get a booster shot every 3 years to ensure its effectiveness.

Depending on the vaccine type, side effects may vary.

After an inactivated typhoid vaccine (injection), people may experience:

  • Pain or swelling at the injection site
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Discomfort
  • Abdominal pain

After taking a live typhoid vaccine (oral), some symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

While typhoid vaccines are effective in significantly minimising the risk of contracting typhoid fever and developing severe symptoms, they do not provide 100% protection against the disease. Practising good hygiene, drinking safe water, and eating properly cooked food, especially when travelling to areas where typhoid fever is prevalent, is crucial to protect yourself from the disease.

You can get your typhoid vaccine and other travel vaccinations at Coolangatta Medical Centre on the Gold Coast, QLD.

or
Call (07) 5599 1400

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    Saturday 8:30am – 12:00pm ( Finish time may vary as per Saturday Doctors availability)
    Public Holidays – Please call the centre for more information.

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    Griffith Street,
    Coolangatta, QLD