Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine is Safe for Children

The Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) has been confirmed as safe for children and individuals with co-existing conditions like heart issues, hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Dr Alumita Vuakanisakea, the project leader for Typhoid Fiji-Vaccination Towards Elimination, said studies have demonstrated the TCV’s safety and efficacy, particularly for infants and children below two years old.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the importance of using typhoid vaccines to manage both endemic and epidemic cases.

WHO recommends introducing TCV as a single dose for infants and children above six months in typhoid-endemic nations. TCV is advised as a response to confirmed typhoid outbreaks and for high-risk or potentially high-transmission groups, including travelers from non-endemic to endemic regions.

“In Fiji, typhoid is common in adults, unlike the rest of the world where typhoid affects children mostly,” Dr Vuakanisakea said.

Typhoid cases were elevated in school-age children and peaked in adults, positively following the mass vaccination campaign there were nil cases of adverse reactions to the TCV.

Cases that were recorded following the campaign were from those who chose not to take the vaccine.

Update on TCV campaign

Dr Vuakanisakea said since the launching of the vaccination campaign on the July 4, people with comorbidities including children aged nine months to 15 years and those from 15 to 65 years had been vaccinated with nil adverse reactions.

“A total of 58,695 individuals in the Northern Division have been successfully vaccinated with TCV,” she said.

“Of the campaign’s 133,325 target population, the campaign has so far achieved 44 per cent, which is still low.”

Vaccination teams dispatched to communities in the North continue to face difficulties in getting identification of members of the public.

For registration purposes, adults are encouraged to bring their valid photo identification (IDs) and their birth certificate or COVID-19 vaccination card.

Children are to bring their birth certificates if they wish to get their vaccination outside school.

For babies above nine months old, their parents are to bring their birth certificates and IDs (parents).

If the birth certificate is not available or has not been produced, an alternative form of documentation such as the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) card may be a substitute.

For non-Fijian citizens, passports and work permits are required.

Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj