In most clinics, the typhoid shot runs about $120–$200 in the U.S., while the oral capsules often list around $110–$160.
Planning a trip where S. Typhi risk is real? Budgeting for pre-travel care helps you avoid last-minute surprises at the clinic or pharmacy. This guide lays out typical prices for the two options—an intramuscular injection (Vi capsular polysaccharide) and an oral capsule series (Ty21a)—plus the fees that can sit on top of the sticker price.
Typhoid Fever Vaccine Price: What A Dose Usually Runs
Two products are used in routine travel practice. The single-dose injection is offered at travel clinics and some pharmacies. The capsule series is filled by pharmacies and taken at home over several days. The figures below reflect common cash prices posted by clinics and pharmacy discount sites in 2025.
| Setting & Product | Typical Cash Price | What The Number Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Travel clinic: injectable (ViCPS) | $130–$200 | Vaccine dose; admin fee may be rolled in or listed separately |
| Pharmacy: injectable brand (per 0.5 mL) | $140–$190 | Vaccine only; pharmacy adds an administration fee where allowed |
| Pharmacy: oral Ty21a (4-capsule pack) | $110–$160 | Medication pack; no shot fee, but a dispensing fee applies |
| County/health dept. travel program | $120–$160 | Often includes administration; separate travel consult may apply |
| UK private clinics (when not via GP) | ~£30–£50 | Single dose or capsule course; many travelers pay £0 via NHS GP |
Why the spread? Private-sector list prices differ from clinic service fees. In the U.S., pharmacy price trackers list the injectable brand in the mid-$140s to high-$180s, and the oral brand commonly lands in the low-$100s to mid-$150s. Many travel clinics post menu prices similar to those sites, and some county programs publish bundled totals that already include the nurse’s time.
Understanding The Two Options
Single-Dose Injection (ViCPS)
This is a one-time 0.5 mL intramuscular shot. Travelers are told to get it at least two weeks before exposure. For those who keep traveling to higher-risk areas, a repeat dose is advised every two years. Schedule details are laid out in the CDC Yellow Book chapter on typhoid and paratyphoid fever (CDC Yellow Book: typhoid).
Four-Capsule Oral Series (Ty21a)
This option is taken on alternating days over a week, finished at least a week before exposure. A repeat course is recommended every five years for people who remain at risk. Because it’s dispensed like a prescription, pharmacies itemize the pack price and typical dispensing fees. Storage and timing instructions matter here; the capsules are kept refrigerated and taken with cool liquid per CDC guidance.
What You’ll Pay Beyond The Sticker Price
Administration And Visit Fees
Shot appointments often carry an administration charge if it isn’t built into the posted vaccine price. Travel-medicine clinics also add a consult fee—commonly $30–$75—especially when a clinician reviews your itinerary and sets a schedule for multiple travel vaccines. Public health travel clinics sometimes publish all-in totals, but many list their consult price separately.
Insurance Coverage
Many U.S. health plans classify typhoid protection as travel-related, so coverage varies. Some employer plans and student plans pick up the tab, while others treat it as out-of-network. Pharmacies frequently show “$0 with many plans” next to brand pages because some benefits include vaccine administration through retail pharmacy networks. If coverage is partial, discount coupons on pharmacy price sites often bring the dose into the ranges shown in the first table.
Regional Differences
Clinic menus vary by city. In large metros with dedicated travel centers, you’ll see higher list prices but also bundled consults. County programs and university travel clinics often sit on the lower end. In the UK, many travelers can get protected through the National Health Service at no charge; official guidance lists typhoid among the travel vaccines provided free of charge in general practice (NHS travel vaccination advice).
How To Choose Between Shot And Capsules
Both products reduce risk, but they differ in age limits, timing, storage, and boosters. The matrix below helps you match your scenario to the right option. Align your timing with official guidance: the injection at least two weeks before exposure; the capsules on alternating days, finished at least a week before potential exposure, with the full four-dose course completed.
| Factor | Injection (ViCPS) | Oral Series (Ty21a) |
|---|---|---|
| Who Can Get It | Ages ≥2 years | Ages ≥6 years |
| Primary Schedule | 1 dose, IM | 4 capsules on alternating days |
| Booster Timing | Every 2 years if risk continues | Every 5 years if risk continues |
| When To Finish | ≥2 weeks before exposure | Finish ≥1 week before exposure |
| Storage/Handling | Standard refrigeration in clinic | Refrigerated capsules; cool liquid with each dose |
| Administration Fees | Yes (clinic or pharmacy) | No shot fee; dispensing fee applies |
Price Benchmarks From 2025 Listings
- Large city travel clinic menus often show the injectable in the $180–$200 band.
- County programs list the oral option near $120 and the shot near $150, with a separate travel consult line item.
- Brand pages for the injectable show average retail near the high-$180s, with discount prices in the mid-$140s. The capsules often land near $115–$155 after discounts.
These figures line up with the first table’s ranges and reflect what travelers report paying at the counter when not using insurance. For context, CDC’s price list publishes manufacturers’ reported private-sector prices for vaccines, which helps explain why retail menus cluster in these bands (CDC private-sector prices).
Timing, Boosters, And How To Avoid Repeat Costs
Plan Your Window
Work backward from your departure. If you choose the shot, book an appointment at least two weeks before exposure. If you choose the capsule pack, start the alternating-day schedule so you finish at least a week before exposure.
Keep Proof Handy
Some clinics and pharmacies can add the dose to your digital vaccine record. Save receipts for reimbursement. Frequent travelers can set a reminder at the two-year mark for the injection or the five-year mark for the capsules.
Pair With Food And Water Precautions
Vaccination reduces risk, but no option blocks exposure from unsafe food or water. The CDC Yellow Book lays out timing, booster intervals, and safe-travel guidance used by U.S. clinics (CDC Yellow Book: typhoid guidance).
Ways To Save On The Final Bill
Call Three Places
Prices move around even inside the same city. Call a dedicated travel clinic, a county immunization program, and a retail pharmacy. Ask each one the same questions: cash price for the product you want, any administration or consultation fees, and the earliest appointment that still meets timing guidance.
Use Pharmacy Discount Tools
Brand pages for both products show coupon-based prices that often match or beat clinic menus. If your health plan doesn’t cover travel immunization, those pages can bring the dose down into the mid-range shown above.
Tap Public Programs
University travel clinics, county health departments, and employer travel services sometimes run lower cash prices or bill directly to vetted plans. In the UK, start with your GP; typhoid protection is commonly provided at no charge in general practice.
What To Expect: Quick Walkthrough
For The Shot
You’ll answer a brief health questionnaire, confirm timing, and sit for the injection.
For The Capsules
Pharmacy staff will cover the alternating-day schedule, storage, and meal timing.
Takeaway: Set A Price Target And Book Early
If you’re paying cash in the U.S., aim for about $140–$170 for the injection done at a pharmacy or public clinic, or about $115–$155 for the capsule pack through a pharmacy. Add any administration or consult fees you’re quoted, and lock the appointment early enough to meet timing rules from the CDC Yellow Book. That way you pay once, get protected on time, and keep the trip on track.