What vaccinations are absolutely necessary?

Asia
Topic Type: Information

First trip to Thailand - What vaccinations are imperative?

Msg: #1 126 weeks ago, July 29th 2007

Hi my name is Lissa and I will be traveling to Thailand in two months. To be honest this was a spur of the moment decision for me and I have never been anywhere in Asia before. A good friend of mine joined the Peace Corp last year quite spontaneously and soon thereafter was shipped off to Thailand. He's been there for over a year now I think and he misses his friends and family. As kind of a joke he told me to come visit him .... quite to his surprise I took him up on his "offer".

Now i'm faced with the fact that I know nothing about the Thai culture, I can't speak one single word in Thai, I have no idea where I'm going to be staying (my friend pretty much lives in the jungle), and what things I need to do to prepare for this trip. All of these things of course add to the adventure of such a trip, and I'm confident that I will have an amazing time.

However, I was looking into the vaccinations that are suggested by the CDC and numerous other health websites and I've come to the conclusion that I really don't want to take them all. My boss just returned from a month long trip to Thailand and he says he did not get any vaccinations. Another friend who has been there told me not to bother with the Malaria pills. Once you have Malaria, you have it, the pills don't do much for you. The only one that I was considering was the Hep A ... since that's the one that gets passed through water.

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts or suggestions on this .... as of this moment I am completely overwhelmed (but also completely excited!!!)

goingplacestogether

Nancy Walsh
Post Count: 10

Msg: #2 126 weeks ago, July 30th 2007

Hi, What to take is always the big question. In Canada we have what is called an international travel clinic. They tell us all the vaccinations etc that they think we should consider. I have been travelling to Asian destinations since 1990. I have my tentus, polio and Dipthera vac...and Hep A and B which comes together. I don't take malaria because the old ones made me feel sick, and the new ones are expensive. Over the past few years I have been to China, Nepal, Kenya /Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwa, Botswana, Egypt and India. Knock on wood, I have been fine. Off to Thailand and Vietnam in Oct.
Good luck making your decisions.

Lissitabonita

Lissa
Post Count: 4

Msg: #3 126 weeks ago, July 30th 2007

When are you going in October? I am leaving October 3rd to the 19th. Unfortunately its a very short trip but it was all I could afford to take off of work at the moment. I was thinking of definitely taking the Hep A and possibly the typhoid. Maybe also the Tetnus shot.

I have an appointment with Passport Health and they should give me all the information I need on the shots that are available. Let's see what I decide ;-)

our_planet_rocks

Jonny Lewington
Post Count: 5

Msg: #4 124 weeks ago, August 8th 2007

to be honest, I would pretty much ignore any advice you are given that isn't from a professional travel clinic. Every traveler seems to have different opinions on what you should / should not get. For starters, its simply not true that malaria pills do not help prevent malaria, and as malaria can kill you or leave you with permanant damage its important to get the facts right. That said, only very few areas in Thailand are malarial - your travel clinic should be able to tell you where.

Read the information and make your own decisions. Be aware that anything you don't have is another risk, although you may decide that the price concerns override the risk factor (as I did with my Jap B and rabies vaccinations). And whatever you do, stay away from advice from other travelers - trust me, however knowledgeable they may sound unless the have medical degrees or a secret passion for memorising travel health advice, they probabl;y know jack shit. Bumming around thailand for sixth months does not, in any way, improve your knowledge of Thailand's health issues!!!

Lissitabonita

Lissa
Post Count: 4

Msg: #5 124 weeks ago, August 8th 2007

HA HA .... thanks for the advice Jonny. I have an appointment next week with passport health and I will hopefully be able to make an informed decision at that point. ;-) Regardless of the costs and risks, I am looking forward to my trip and know I will have a GREAT time!! Thanks again for your words of advice.

Cheers.

goingplacestogether

Nancy Walsh
Post Count: 10

Msg: #6 121 weeks ago, September 2nd 2007

Hi Lisa, We depart for Bangkok on the 26th. Our journey to Thailand also is not long. We will only be there for a week then head to Vietnam.
Have a great time.
nancy

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