Vaccines

• Adacel Quadra
• Four in one vaccine covering all abovementioned diseases
• Recommended booster as an adult

Read more about PolioRead more about TetanusRead more about PertussisRead more about Diphtheria

• Boosterix
• Three in one vaccine covering all abovementioned diseases
• Recommended booster as an adult

Read more about TetanusRead more about PertussisRead more about Diphtheria

• Typhim
• Single dose vaccination provides cover for a period of 3 to 5 years.

Read more about Typhoid

• Twinrix (2 in one combination vaccine)
• 3 dose regimen within one year provides lifelong protection

Read more about Hepatitis-ARead more about Hepatitis-B

• Menactra
• Travellers to areas affected by meningococcal outbreaks should be vaccinated as well as travellers to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah. Also recommended for university and hostel accommodation residents.
• Vaccines are available against serogroups A, C, W 135 and Y (quadrivalent)
• Single dose provides 5 year protection, boosting recommended

Read more about Meningococcal Meningitis

• Avaxim Junior
• Due to lack of availability of the adult dosage the paediatric vaccine can be used (two paediatric doses = one adult dose)
• Generally, one single vaccine provides protection within 2 to 4 weeks which lasts for approximately 6 months to 1 year. A single booster dose will maintain the protection for at least a further 10 years.

Read more about Hepatitis A

• Engerix B
• An initial vaccine with two booster doses administered over a six month period is required for full immunity.

Read more about Hep B

• Verorab
• Pre-exposure vaccination which consists of two doses given 7 days apart will protect an individual who comes into contact with a potentially rabid animal and will allow for enough time to get post exposure prophylaxis without the need for rabies immunoglobin which is not readily available.
• The same vaccine is used if one is exposed to a potentially rabid animal.

Read more about Rabies

• Rabigam
• This vaccine is indicated for an individual who comes into contact with a potentially rabid animal with a category 3 exposure. RIG is derived from immunised human donors and is in short supply.

Read more about Rabies

• Tetavax
• Available as a single preparation or as part of the 4 in 1 Adacel Quadra
• One dose provides protection for 10 years, however a booster is recommended if an exposure occurs 5 or more years after the initial dose.

Read more about Tetanus

• Prevenar (PCV13)
• Indicated for individuals with splenic dysfunction, sickle cell disease, immune compromise, chronic lung, heart or liver disease, alcoholism, age over 65 and all smokers regardless of age
• Pneumovax
• Recommended as a booster one year after receiving Prevenar; should give lifelong protection but a booster can be administered for high-risk individuals after 5 years

• Priorix
• Part of the childhood vaccine programme; however, a booster is indicated at age 12 and for university and hostel accommodation residents as well as women who are planning to fall pregnant.

• Vaxigrip Tetra
• Recommended to all individuals over 6 months of age on a yearly basis. Released yearly based on the strains circulating in the population at the time and what is predicted to affect each hemisphere in the forthcoming winter.

• Chickenpox
  • Varilrix
  • Recommended for children and university hostel residents or anyone staying in shared accommodation
• Shingles
  • Zostavax – No longer available in South Africa (live vaccine)
    • Recommended for people who have had chicken pox to prevent the development of shingles
    • Risk for developing shingles increases with age, chronic conditions and immune compromise
  • Shingrix (killed vaccine) – Section 21/off label use in South Africa
    • Recombinant shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older and adults with immune compromise
    • The Shingrix vaccine is a 2-dose regimen
    • Advantage: not a live vaccine and can be given to organ transplant recipients and severely immune compromised patients who cannot receive a live vaccine

• Gardasil
• Protects against human papilloma virus types 6,11, 16 and 18 (quadrivalent) which cause cervical cancer
• Recommended to girls over the age of 9; given in 3 doses within a 6-month period