What immunizations are required/suggested including malaria pills.
For a trip encompassing Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and possibly Vietnam, what are the immunizations that are needed including Malaria pills. Has anyone gone without the malaria pills and not had a problem, or gone without and acutally contracted malaria?
Thanks
Reply to this Check with your own doctor and see if you can get by with Doxycycline for malaria. Doxy is real cheap in Thailand. If you have managed health care see them first. Some tourists visit these areas without any malaria pills and some get everything their doctors recommend. I don't have any out of pocket costs for my shots and get everything. I include the JEV shots and the tetanus shots too. Dengue Fever is reported in this area too.
See your doctor for medical advice.
Reply to this I actually just got my immunizations for Thailand and Cambodia this past week. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid are required, but most people get the Hep B shots when they are young. They also recommend a tetanus shot every five years for frequent travelers, so I had that done as well.
As for malaria pills, I went with Doxycycline. They seem to be by far the cheapest option. The down side is that you have to continue taking them for at least 3 weeks after you leave the "malaria zone" to be effective.
Hope that helps!
Reply to this Do you have to provid proof of your immunizations on entry?
Reply to this I don't think that it is required to enter Thailand or Cambodia, but either way I did receive an "International Certificate of Immunization" from the doctor. I'm sure any travel health clinic would be able to provide this, and it would serve anywhere that you had to prove your immunization history.
Reply to this I have never been asked for my shot card but I always have it updated and with me.
I keep my Yellow Fever shot up to date too. Who knows - maybe my plane will be diverted to Africa or some other place where Yellow Fever is a problem. Some countries have requirements for that shot if you previously stopped in a Yellow Fever area.
Reply to this I'd say make sure you have your hep shots and tetnus, but most people have those anyways. I've never gotten any other shots and have been fine each time I've been to Asia. Also, there's no vaccine for dengue fever. My friend got it last time we were in Thailand. It was an unpleasant week in the hospital but there's nothing you can do to protect yourself and the doctors will help you out if you get it.
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