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By Abhimanyu Kochhar (Abhi)
GPhC-registered pharmacist · Travel Vaccination Service Manager · Southall Branch Manager
You may need both hepatitis A and typhoid protection for a trip, but one vaccine does not substitute for the other. They target different infections. Whether either dose is due now depends on the destination guidance, your travel plans, health and previous vaccination records.
At a glance
- Hepatitis A and typhoid are different infections.
- Both can be associated with contaminated food or water.
- A previous ‘travel jab’ does not identify which protection you received.
- The schedules and later-dose requirements differ.
- Vaccination does not prevent every cause of travellers’ diarrhoea.
What is the difference?
| Question | Hepatitis A | Typhoid |
|---|---|---|
| What causes it? | A virus that affects the liver. | The bacterium Salmonella Typhi. |
| Why is it discussed for travel? | Exposure can occur through contaminated food or water, or contact with an infected person. | Exposure can occur through contaminated food or water. |
| Does the vaccine cover the other infection? | No. | No. |
| What should I bring? | Records showing the product and doses received. | Records showing the product and date or completed oral course. |
These distinctions are explained in NHS hepatitis A information and NaTHNaC’s typhoid guidance. Similar routes of exposure do not make the vaccines interchangeable.
How does a clinician decide whether I need both?
The assessment starts with current advice for the destination, then your actual plans and records. Two travellers on the same flight can receive different recommendations because one already has documented protection.
Ask three questions: “Is this recommended for my trip?”, “What protection is already recorded?”, and “Which dose, if any, is due now?” Keeping the questions separate makes the plan easier to understand.
Do not choose one vaccine simply because it is cheaper if the assessment identifies two different needs. Equally, do not repeat a dose just because a pre-priced package includes it.
Why the previous dose date matters
NaTHNaC’s hepatitis A guidance shows that schedules vary by product; a later dose is commonly part of completing longer-term protection. Do not assume one past injection establishes a completed course.
NaTHNaC advises reinforcing typhoid vaccination at three-year intervals for continued risk. That is a different review question from hepatitis A course completion.
Retrieve the full record where possible. Note the product, date, dose and any follow-up instruction. If the information is incomplete, have the uncertainty assessed rather than guessing which vaccine was given.
Can one combined injection cover both?
You may find older pages discussing combined hepatitis A and typhoid products. NaTHNaC’s product table currently marks the listed combined hepatitis A/typhoid products as discontinued. Do not book on the assumption that a historical combination remains available.
Also check the letters carefully: hepatitis A and B is a different combination and does not mean typhoid protection. Ask the clinician to write the infections covered in plain language.
The useful goal is appropriate protection with an understandable schedule. Confirm current product availability and appointment arrangements with the provider rather than relying on an old price list.
What protection will these vaccines not provide?
Typhoid vaccination does not protect against paratyphoid, and neither vaccine covers every cause of stomach illness. Follow food and water precautions even when vaccination is up to date.
Think through ordinary travel situations: a long transfer, ice in a drink, a buffet or a child eating without washing their hands. Practical preparation is about repeatable habits, not assuming every meal will be unsafe.
If you become unwell, explain your travel history to the healthcare professional. A vaccination record is useful information, not a reason to dismiss symptoms.
How do I compare cost and appointment options?
The NHS lists both hepatitis A and typhoid among travel vaccinations available free through GP surgeries. Ask your practice about assessment and arrangements if using that route.
For private care, compare the actual doses proposed, any later appointments and the consultation terms. See Puri Pharmacy’s current prices.
When several providers are involved, share the record after each dose. Keep one personal summary so future appointments can recognise completed vaccination rather than starting the conversation again from memory.
If I had hepatitis A vaccination, am I covered for typhoid?
No. They are separate infections and the record should identify the protection you received.
Does hepatitis A and B mean hepatitis A and typhoid?
No. Hepatitis B is another infection; the combination name does not include typhoid.
Can I just buy the same pair of vaccines before every holiday?
Have the trip and records reviewed first. You may have completed protection or different requirements from the previous journey.
Do I need to choose the vaccines before booking?
No. Bring your itinerary and records. The consultation should help establish which recommendations apply and explain the costs.
Your pre-travel consultation at Puri Pharmacy
Abhimanyu Kochhar leads Puri Pharmacy’s travel vaccination service. Bring your old records to separate what is already complete from anything due for the next trip. Ask for the infections covered, appointment plan and quotation in clear terms.
Southall Travel Vaccination Clinic is within Puri Pharmacy Southall, 39 Western Road, UB2 5HE. Our Hillingdon branch is at 165 Ryefield Avenue, UB10 9DA.
The consultation payment is £25 per person, paid at booking. It is credited once against vaccinations under your agreed plan, including at a later appointment. If you receive the consultation and do not proceed with vaccination, the £25 pays for the consultation.
Book a pre-travel health consultation
About Abhi
Abhimanyu Kochhar is a GPhC-registered pharmacist and yellow fever vaccination pharmacist. He manages Puri Pharmacy’s Southall branch and leads the travel vaccination service across Southall and Hillingdon, both designated yellow fever vaccination centres.
Sources and further reading
- NHS: Hepatitis A
- NaTHNaC: Hepatitis A
- NaTHNaC: Typhoid fever
- NaTHNaC: Food and water hygiene
- NHS: Travel vaccinations
Sources checked: 6 October 2026. General information, not an individual treatment plan. Guidance and travel requirements can change; obtain advice for your own health and itinerary.
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