Vaccination for typhoid fever in Sub-Saharan Africa

To the Editor

We agree with the concern of investigators at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA¹ about shortage of funds to sponsor country level programs for typhoid vaccination in Sub-Saharan Africa and feel that involvement of individual families would be an appropriate alternate strategy toward typhoid immunization of 3–5 y old children. That would be achievable by motivating masses to consider typhoid vaccination as the most appropriate gift for a special occasion. Birthday celebrations are important for infants and preschool children. Rather than giving conventional birthday gifts, typhoid vaccination of the child would most appropriate. Furthermore, adjustments in allocation of funds for celebrating festivals like Christmas, Dewali or Eid could make typhoid vaccines available to all. Such a community commitment would offset the decision of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization to not provide financial support to countries for introduction of the existing Vi polysaccharide vaccine.¹

Vaccine producers, like department stores, could gear up for a periodic vaccine sale. Ready availability of cut-rate typhoid vaccines on important national days or religious festivals would also be a stimulant for guardians to have their young children vaccinated.

Slayton RB. Date KA, Mintz ED. Vaccination for typhoid fever in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013;9:903–6. doi: 10.4161/hv.23007.

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.