Vaccinations

Will be looking to travel SEA from March / April 2011, Starting in Hong Kong, going through China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, (Philippines/PNG) * If budget permits. Now i have spoken to the local travel clinic, and got a list as long as my arm with a total of just over $1000 Australian, this was covering

Hep A/B
Thyphoid
Diptheria
Rabies
Jap Enceph
Meningitis
Tetanus
2 mth supply Malarone.

After looking at the shots, cost and doing a bit of reading i have conflicting advice on what i need. do i listen to the clinic and get the recommendations? ( i do tend to think they are trying to make a few bucks out of me with the size of that list) or cut it back?

i was thinking that i should get the following

Hep A/B
Typhoid
Diphtheria
Tetanus Booster
Malarone

will save a few hundred dollars, so what do you think? any experienced travelers to the countries i listed went with less, more, the recommended? any advice welcome

Malarone Reply to this

Hey Chris

Travel Medicine Clinics have a very good way of telling you you need every vax under the sun. Having done all the countries you listed including PNG where you are most likely to get JE of all the destinations...visit your own doctor for his advice. As Dominick suggested, go the doxy - Malarone is stupidly expensive and often has rather unpleasant side effects including night terrors. I took Malarone for a while in PNG and gave it a miss when I went back rather using doxy. Rabies shots are incredibly painful and even if you do get bitten you still need another shot within the 48 hours at the bite site, so not worth the $$ either. Hep A/B is worthwhile, Tet shots last years so you may need a booster or still be covered if youve ever had a tet shot. You're an Aussie, You're tough, You'll be right 😉

Have fun 😊 Reply to this

Regarding meningitis:

"About 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. 10 to 5 percent of these people die, in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, another 11to19 percent lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures or strokes.

Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age and people with certain medical conditions, such as lack of a spleen. College freshmen who live in dormitories have an increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.

Who should get meningococcal vaccine and when?
Menactra is recommended for all children at their routine preadolescent visit (11 to 12 years of age). For those who have never gotten Menactra previously, a dose is recommended at high school entry."

While the CDC specifically recommends vaccination if you are visiting the "meningitis belt" in Africa, it certainly does not give the impression that it would be overcautious otherwise. In fact the CDC says the following regarding the vaccine:

"Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds. If your child did not get this vaccine at their 11 or 12 year old check-up, make an appointment for him or her to get it now. "



Regarding Japanese Encephalitis:

"Q. What is the mortality rate of Japanese encephalitis?
A. Case-fatality rates range from 0.3% to 60%.

Q. How many cases of Japanese encephalitis occur in the world and the U.S.?
A. Japanese encephalitis is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia with 30-50,000 cases reported annually. Fewer than 1 case/year is reported in U.S. civilians and military personnel traveling to and living in Asia. Rare outbreaks in U.S. territories in Western Pacific have occurred.

Q. How is Japanese encephalitis treated?
A. There is no specific therapy. Intensive supportive therapy is indicated."

That is from the CDC website - while true it is very rare in travelers, it isnt all that rare if up to 50,000 people get it every year. No treatment exists, and you have up to a 60% fatality rate.

While somewhat expensive I felt that these vaccinations were worth the money. True there are plenty of diseases that you cant prevent like Dengue, which I did get in Costa Rica, but I experienced some peace of mind after my immunizations. Although I don't find it absolutely necessary even the rabies vaccine was worth it, I wasnt afraid to go caving or walk past the packs of street dogs you see in almost every third world country. If I got bit I felt confident that I would have enough time to get treatment. Hard to put a price on that.


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You can go to the Red Cross hospital. It's a specialist centre for rabies and snake venom research and has a travel clinic. Look for the snake farm, it's next to it. The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is 3 injections over a month tho, so you need to have some time to get it. Reply to this

Can't remember. You pay for each injection and you need three. It's not expensive though.
You can get doxy there too. Reply to this