Before you depart for your trip, help protect yourself against typhoid fever

Typhoid fever is a disease caused by a type of bacteria called Salmonella Typhi.¹ Typhoid fever can be a severe and even life-threatening illness.¹ An estimated 11 to 21 million cases of typhoid fever occur worldwide each year.¹

Typhoid fever is spread through contaminated food or water and by person-to-person contact.¹ For example, you can get typhoid fever if you eat or drink something that has been touched by someone who is still getting rid of the Salmonella Typhi bacteria in their feces (stools) – especially if they haven’t washed their hands well after using the bathroom.¹ You can also contract typhoid fever if sewage that has the bacteria in it gets into something you eat or drink, or if it gets into the water used to rinse food that you eat raw.¹

Common symptoms of typhoid fever include loss of appetite, headache, weakness, stomach pain, and constipation or diarrhea.^2,3 In severe cases, stomach bleeding, brain damage, and death may occur.³ The symptoms of typhoid fever may vary from person to person. And remember, you can still pass on typhoid fever to others even after your symptoms are gone.²

Typhoid fever is commonly found in regions of the world where water and food may be unsafe.^3,4 Travelers to South Asia are at greatest risk for typhoid fever. Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are other high-risk regions for infection, while East Asia and the Caribbean are lower-risk regions.³

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for people traveling to places where typhoid fever is common.⁵

CDC recommends a typhoid fever vaccination for people traveling to places where typhoid fever is common.⁵ Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated before you travel. Want to find a provider in your area? Click here.

Immunization is one of the best ways to help protect you and your family from typhoid fever.⁵

Typhoid fever vaccines are not 100% effective. Always practice safe eating and drinking habits to help prevent infection.⁵

You should follow the CDC guidelines for safe eating and drinking overseas, where typhoid fever is common. These precautions include⁴:

• Eating food that is cooked and served hot
• Drinking bottled water
• Avoiding ice
• Avoiding raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled

Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics²; however, according to data reported in 2017, 74% of Salmonella Typhi infections are resistant to one of the most commonly used antibiotics, so treatment options are diminishing.⁶

VIVOTIF is a prescription vaccine you take by mouth to help protect you from typhoid fever. Typhoid fever, which can be a life-threatening disease, is caused by a specific type of bacteria. VIVOTIF is for adults and children more than 6 years of age.⁷

Immunization with VIVOTIF is not routinely recommended for people living in the United States; however, VIVOTIF is recommended for people who are at a higher risk of getting typhoid fever. This includes⁷:

• People who travel to places where typhoid fever is more common
• People who have close contact with someone who has had typhoid fever or is known to be carrying the bacteria that causes it
• People who work in laboratories who could have contact with the bacteria that causes typhoid fever (Salmonella typhi)

VIVOTIF has not been shown to protect against typhoid fever in common source outbreaks, following natural disasters, or in people attending rural summer camps.⁷

Not all people will be fully protected from typhoid fever following vaccination. While you travel to areas where typhoid fever is common, you should take care to ensure the food you eat and water you drink are safe.⁷

VIVOTIF will not protect you from other kinds of Salmonella bacteria besides S. typhi and will not treat typhoid fever if you have been infected.⁷

VIVOTIF is for adults and children greater than 6 years of age.⁷ Immunization with VIVOTIF is not routinely recommended for people living in the United States⁷; however, VIVOTIF is recommended for people who are at a higher risk of getting typhoid fever. This includes⁷:

• People who travel to places where typhoid fever is more common
• People who have close contact with someone who has had typhoid fever or is known to be carrying the bacteria that causes it
• People who work in laboratories who could have contact with the bacteria that causes typhoid fever (Salmonella typhi)

Not all people will be fully protected from typhoid fever following vaccination.⁷ While you travel, you should take care to ensure the food you eat and water you drink are safe.⁷ VIVOTIF will not protect you from other kinds of Salmonella bacteria and will not treat typhoid fever if you have been infected.⁷

There is no evidence that VIVOTIF protects from common source outbreaks of typhoid fever, disease following natural disasters, or in people attending rural summer camps.⁷

No. VIVOTIF is not a treatment for typhoid fever and will not protect you from getting sick if you’ve already been infected.⁷ Additionally, VIVOTIF will not protect you from Salmonella bacteria other than Salmonella typhi.⁷

DO NOT take VIVOTIF if⁷:

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients in the vaccine or the enteric-coated capsule
• You have an active fever or if your immune system is weakened, including as a result of a disease or other medicines you take

The full dosing schedule is 4 capsules that you take by mouth every other day over the course of 7 days.⁷

Be sure to complete your last dose at least 1 week before you plan to travel.⁷

In clinical trials of people receiving 3 doses of VIVOTIF, the most common side effects were abdominal pain, nausea, headache, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and skin rash. Only nausea was more common in people that took VIVOTIF compared with those who took a sugar pill.⁷

These are not all the possible side effects of VIVOTIF. Patients should always ask their healthcare professionals for medical advice about the appropriate use of vaccines and adverse events. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bavarian Nordic at 1-844-4BAVARIAN or the US Department of Health and Human Services by either visiting www.vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html or calling 1-800-822-7967.

You should start taking VIVOTIF at least 2 weeks prior to your trip, so that you can complete your final dose at least 1 week before you plan to travel.^5,7

VIVOTIF can help provide protection against typhoid fever for at least to 5 years.⁷

The full immunization course is 4 doses.⁷ The optimum booster schedule for VIVOTIF has not been determined.⁷

It is recommended that a re-immunization dose consisting of 4 vaccine capsules taken on alternate days be given every 5 years under conditions of repeated or continued exposure to typhoid fever.⁷

Not all recipients of VIVOTIF will be fully protected against typhoid fever.⁷

VIVOTIF is available by prescription from your healthcare provider or from select pharmacies. If you are traveling to areas with typhoid fever, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to see if VIVOTIF is right for you.

A package of VIVOTIF contains 4 capsules that you take every other day before meals.⁷ Swallow 1 capsule about 1 hour before a meal with a cold or lukewarm (temperature not to exceed body temperature, e.g., 37°C [98.6°F]) drink.⁷ It doesn’t matter what time you take your capsule, as long as it’s at least 1 hour before a meal.⁷ Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will explain the dosing and administration to you.⁷

Remember⁷:

• Capsules should be swallowed as soon after placing in the mouth as possible. Do not open or chew capsules
• Do not freeze the capsules. Keep capsules refrigerated (35.6ºF–46.4ºF)
• All 4 doses of VIVOTIF should be taken at least 1 week before traveling

Need help remembering to take your dose of VIVOTIF? Simply text TRAVEL to 1-833-207-3377 when you take your first dose.

You’ll receive text messages over the next 7 days reminding you to take the remaining doses every other day.

It’s important to take VIVOTIF exactly as your healthcare provider or pharmacist tells you. VIVOTIF may not fully protect you from typhoid fever if you miss a dose.⁷ In case you miss a dose of VIVOTIF, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist for instructions.

For full instructions on how to take VIVOTIF, see full Prescribing Information.

VIVOTIF capsules need to be stored in your refrigerator (35.6ºF–46.4ºF).⁷ Be sure to only take out 1 capsule at a time, and keep the rest refrigerated until you have used them all. Do not freeze the capsules.⁷