Diphtheria

transmission: droplets, contact with articles contaminated by infected person.

administration: intramuscular injection, usually with polio and tetanus.

schedule: part of the childhood vaccination schedule; booster if last dose was >10 years ago.

Tetanus

transmission: entry via a wound, including by dirty needles.

administration: intramuscular injection, usually with diphtheria and polio.

schedule: part of childhood vaccination schedule; booster if last dose was >10 years ago.

Typhoid fever

transmission: via faeces or urine, poor sanitation, contaminated food or drink.

vaccine: either as a Vi injection (also available with hepatitis A) or as Ty21a oral capsules.

administration: either a single intramuscular injection or a course of one oral capsule on three alternate days(the Vi injection is considered more effective, but people may prefer to the oral course). For people at continued risk of exposure, vaccination should be repeated at periods of <3 years; the oral vaccine may be repeated yearly.

Cholera

NHS Choices says “vaccination against cholera isn’t routinely needed for most travellers”.

transmission: poor sanitation, contaminated food or water.

administration: requires a sodium hydrogen carbonate buffer solution to dissolve the vaccine granules, to make a drink taken orally on an empty stomach.

schedule: where applicable, adults and children over 6 years require 2 doses 1-6 weeks apart and completed at least a week before travel (three doses for children 2-6 years). For prolonged protection, have a booster within two years for people aged 6+ years or within six months for 2-6 year olds.

Meningococcal meningitis

transmission: via sneezing, coughing, kissing, or shared utensils, cutlery or toothbrush.

vaccine: Meningitis ACWY.

administration: usually for intramuscular (deltoid muscle) use.

schedule: single dose; a booster may be needed after 3-5 years.

Tuberculosis

NHS Choices includes TB in its advice on travel vaccination, but notes that the BCG (TB) vaccine for travel is only recommended for people under 16 years “who are going to live with local people for more than three months in an area with high rates of TB.”