CPT® Code 90690

The CPT® Code 90690 refers to the live oral typhoid vaccine, which is designed to provide active immunity against typhoid fever. Unlike immune globulins that offer short-term, passive immunity, vaccines like this one stimulate the recipient's immune system to develop its own long-lasting defense. This is achieved by introducing altered forms of the Salmonella typhi bacteria, the pathogen responsible for typhoid fever, into the body. The immune system responds by producing antibodies specifically targeted at these altered versions of the bacteria. Once the immune system has been exposed to the vaccine, it retains a memory of how to produce these antibodies, enabling a quicker and more effective response if the individual encounters the actual bacteria in the future. Typhoid fever is characterized by symptoms such as high fever, rash, and diarrhea, and it is primarily transmitted through contaminated food, water, and milk. The use of CPT® Code 90690 specifically indicates the administration of the oral vaccine that contains the live, attenuated strain of the virus, distinguishing it from other typhoid vaccines, such as the Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine, which is administered via intramuscular injection and is represented by CPT® Code 90691. It is important to note that these codes are utilized solely to report the specific vaccine product administered.