I am travelling round Asia from May to September. Thailand is the main stay, but Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam & maybe Malaysia and Hong Kong will be a few other places I am going to visit.
I have just come back from the doctors after having jabs for Hep A and Typhoid, as I am already immuse from Diphtheria from my last travels - or so the doctor said!
However, I have been told I need 115 malarone tablets to cover my time there. They said I cannot get them on the NHS so I'll have to pay. I have been quoted 289.99 GBP and 308.99 GBP!!! I seriously dont want to pay this!!! Its not that I cannot afford to, its the fact that the cash will be coming out of my travel funds. Is there any other way rather than this??? I want to be immune as can be from malaria but cant really afford to be spending this.
Any ideas??? Or can you please tell me what you have done?? Thanks very much!!
Reply to this Hello Rick 😊
Malarone is currently the best anti Malaria drug on the market because it has the fewest side effects. It is also the most expensive.
You could use Doxycycline. It is a lot less expensive but just as effective. Its main side effect is that it makes skin more sensitve to sun, so high factor sun cream is recommended.
Also, whether to use Malaria prevention drugs or not is a contravertial subject. Some doctors recommend that they are only used when travelling in Africa....
Mel
Reply to this Sorry to go off topic (although I'm interested in the answer to your questions Massey as I'm traveling around those same countries) but do you need to get your jabs a certain time period before you travel??? Or can you get them any time before you leave? Are there any jabs that you need repeated and hence will take weeks/months to complete?
Thanks 😊
Reply to this Thanks Mel!
I have spoken to a few mates who told me they just took mosquito spray and as long as I dont go into the jungle areas I'll be fine! Think I am going to do that as I cant really afford to be spending 300 notes on drugs! And yeh Africa is the worse hit, think I'll be ok if I keep to the more known areas.
Harv3y, I think you can get the jabs anytime before you leave. Each jab has a lasting effect. I think Hep A and Typhoid is 2 years or something similar. I am already immune from Diphtheria from 4 years ago so I didnt need that one again. If you were taking Malaria tablets then you need to start them upto a week before you go and continue being on them until a week after your home on your travels. I hope this helps!
Reply to this ....do you need to get your jabs a certain time period before you travel???
According to what I have read, it is advisable to get them some time before you travel but they will still be quite effective if you get them just before you go.
The HepA and the HepAB combo needs a booster within a year after the first shot to make it effective for 10 to 20 years.
.....300 notes on drugs!
Doxycycline would cost you more like 20 or 50 Euros. I mostly dont take Malaria pills because I dont want the side effects. I didnt take them when I went to India at Christmas, but I did use plenty of DEET containing mosquito repellant. Be sure to get one containing at least 15%!D(MISSING)EET. It will likely be easily available in all the countries you travel to in Asia.
If you were taking Malaria tablets then you need to start them upto a week before you go and continue being on them until a week after your home on your travels. I hope this helps!
That is if you are taking Malarone. The others have different instructions.
Reply to this Ah Ok, thanks for the help Mel! Much appreciated.
I'll be sure to get the correct mosquito repellant. Thanks again!
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