Question on Thailand

[Walter John]

Dear Doctor,

Should I ensure I get Hep A and Hep B vaccinations before travelling to Thailand ?

How soon before I travel should I receive them ?

What else would I need for the biennial program ?

Any other tips ?

[rthink]

Malaria would be good if you join post tour.

[Kim]

Wal, I'm not a doctor, but occasionally I pay to go see one. This is what the Center for Disease Control recommends, but you should consult your own physician, or a physician specializing in Travel Medecine. I got lots of immunizations before I went to Africa, and it was $$, not covered by insurance. Luckily several of them are still effective. I would think Hep A and B would be routine, but what do I know?

CDC Advisory

[Jeff Searle]

Yes,

I highly reccomend that you go see an infectious disease doctor that will know exactly what you need to take for each country.

[Walter John]

Thanks folks, I believe there's a medical centre nearby (25 mins) that has a focus on travelling OS medical needs, I shall visit them next week. Thanks again. I haven't been here long enough to have a regular Dr.

[Pedro 65]

Dear Doctor,

Should I ensure I get Hep A and Hep B vaccinations before travelling to Thailand ?

How soon before I travel should I receive them ?

What else would I need for the biennial program ?

Any other tips ?

Wal, we frequent Thailand as a family including small children and have never had any vaccinations. No doubt you will do a Chao phraya tour in Bangkok.( a Must do) If you are in a small higher speed long boat which you are sitting "just" above the water, tie a bandana or the likes around your mouth as anything and everything is in the waters. Wal, you will have the absolute "time of your life" in Thailand, and you will go back time and time again. Have fun. Pete

[Walter John]

Hi again, I went to the medical centre today specialising in helping out idiots like me travelling oerseas without a clue or a coupon.

The Doc , name of Doctor Storm (true) who hails from Sth Africa was quite the knowledge machine and asked me many questions, some personal, quite a few personal actually, anyway, this was to help him work out what is best for me. I showed him the IPS biennial intinerary and guess what he said, give up ?, he said, "there's an International Palm Society ?, for Palms, Palm trees ?", . He was amazed, and he went on and on with the questions, he was good, I liked him. Eventually I ended up getting a vaccination injection covering Hep A and Typhoid in one needle and another injection on the other arm contained vaccinations for Tetanus, Dyptheria and Country music. I'll be immune for 3 years. Follow up shot for Hep A and a bonus flu vacc in late July, then I'll be ready to roll..

[ariscott]

I never take any needles... just make sure you have travel insurance and you will be fine...

Regards, Ari

[Pedro 65]

Hi again, I went to the medical centre today specialising in helping out idiots like me travelling oerseas without a clue or a coupon.

The Doc , name of Doctor Storm (true) who hails from Sth Africa was quite the knowledge machine and asked me many questions, some personal, quite a few personal actually, anyway, this was to help him work out what is best for me. I showed him the IPS biennial intinerary and guess what he said, give up ?, he said, "there's an International Palm Society ?, for Palms, Palm trees ?", . He was amazed, and he went on and on with the questions, he was good, I liked him. Eventually I ended up getting a vaccination injection covering Hep A and Typhoid in one needle and another injection on the other arm contained vaccinations for Tetanus, Dyptheria and Country music. I'll be immune for 3 years. Follow up shot for Hep A and a bonus flu vacc in late July, then I'll be ready to roll..

Wow Wal, I hope your body can cope with all that gear they have pumped into you, thats full on. I hope this doesnt start a "scare campaign" for any readers heading to Thailand.The most i ever had even when working in Thailand and Myanmar for 2 years was up to date Tetanus shot. At the end of the day its your choice.

[ariscott]

yeah.... a bit of an overkill, I think so too....

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

[Kim]

Everybody is different, that's why the docs ask so many questions. What's right for Wal might not be right for somebody else. And insurance doesn't cover the fun you miss while sick.

[paulgila]

my take on this is that you can cope with the immunizations or you can cope with the full-blown disease,potentially. your choice.

the cdc website lists the routine immunizations you should get(hep A & B,MMR,& DPT). malaria & tyhpoid immunizations are not recommended

for bangkok & pattaya,but they are for any "rural areas." i am wondering how rural we are going to get.

[Eric F]

Isn't Hep vaccine as administered in Australia a two stage with a booster at six months?

(quick check of http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/content/Handbook-hepatitisa said yes)

[Jeff Searle]

There's always some high rollers....the smart ones do their homework....

[Moose]

Hi again, I went to the medical centre today specialising in helping out idiots like me travelling oerseas without a clue or a coupon.

The Doc , name of Doctor Storm (true) who hails from Sth Africa was quite the knowledge machine and asked me many questions, some personal, quite a few personal actually, anyway, this was to help him work out what is best for me. I showed him the IPS biennial intinerary and guess what he said, give up ?, he said, "there's an International Palm Society ?, for Palms, Palm trees ?", . He was amazed, and he went on and on with the questions, he was good, I liked him. Eventually I ended up getting a vaccination injection covering Hep A and Typhoid in one needle and another injection on the other arm contained vaccinations for Tetanus, Dyptheria and Country music. I'll be immune for 3 years. Follow up shot for Hep A and a bonus flu vacc in late July, then I'll be ready to roll..

Wal - I seriously hope your visit and innoculations were gratis.

Providing a free consultation regarding palms, some prid pro quo would seem appropriate.

[MikeL]

Wal,

It looks like you handled your vaccinations a while back and are unlikely to need any more feedback at this point. But I couldn’t help jumping in to say it looks like you made some good choices. I’m not a medical doctor but have worked in vaccine research and development for several years and have even worked on a vaccine clinical trial that was centered just down the road from Nong Nooch in Pattaya.

Deciding on whether to get a particular vaccination usually depends on two main factors: (1) the likelihood of contracting the infectious illness, and (2) the severity of the illness. That is, it might be worth it to be vaccinated against an unlikely infection if the consequences of contracting it are quite dire. Other factors that can also play a role in the decision are cost and vaccine safety, but those were not likely big concerns in the vaccines you considered.

Hepatitis A is an obvious and sound choice for travelers. Even though it’s not as prevalent in Thailand as in some parts of the world, it’s readily transmitted, difficult to avoid, and a nasty disease. It’s particularly troublesome in persons over 50 who have a higher fatality rate than younger people.

On the other hand, hepatitis B is not so readily transmitted even though it is more prevalent among the Thai population than most of the rest of the world. Hepatitis B vaccinations are being given more routinely nowadays but I can certainly understand someone skipping it.

A typhoid vaccination seems like a no-brainer to me since it’s such a terrible infection. Like hepatitis A, it’s transmitted through contaminated food and water.

The risk of most of these tropical infections (with the notable exception of dengue) is generally higher in rural, undeveloped parts of the country. I’ve been to Bangkok and Nong Nooch on a few other occasions and can vouch that they are both quite developed.

Finally, I recommend having a look at the “

Yellow Book” from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s full of really great recommendations and timely updates on health risks to travelers to all parts of the world.

Good luck on your trip and I hope to meet you in Thailand.

Mike