Shots for SE Asia

Intervention

Hi, can anybody please tell me what are the most essential vaccination shots that you need when travelling through South East Asia? I want to try and keep costs to a minimum but obviously these are important so which basic ones will I need?
Thanks

purcela

i'm heading the same direction as you, going to thailand, laos, possibly vietnam and cambodia, haven't finalised anything yet. started my course of injections last week, getting Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid. Hep B requires a course of 3 shots on days 0,7 and 21. Also getting a Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio shot. Have to get Malaria tablets aswell, you will more than likely be going into Malaria infected regions.

Intervention

Wow, that sounds like a lot of shots. I am planning on going on the 10th July so should I be getting these very soon? Also, how much do they cost to get?

purcela

The price depends on where you go. I would recommend you stay clear of the Tropical Medical Bureau, they charge a huge mark up on the shots. Ring a couple of local GPs, they might do them at cost price for you and charge you a consultation fee, works out much cheaper. It is probably too late for you to get a full course of Hep B shots now, but you will still want to get Hep A and Typhoid, as they are carried in contaminated water that food could be cooked in, etc, so they are important to get. Your GP should be able to tell you which are the most important at this stage anyway.

coleen

my son also going for a 3 week holiday to Thailand and has asked 2 doctors 1 is 400 euro with a list that includes rabies and the other doctor is 110 euro and did not mention rabies so who is right. Is there a place you can get the list of what you need to get and then go to your doctor and order these ones. Why is one doctors list much more than the other

Intervention

I would imagine that some doctors will be quoting different prices. I'm just going to call in to my local GP and enquire. He has always been my family doctor so I am sure he will be reasonable in telling me which shots I need and how much they will cost. I think this is the best idea instead of going to unknown doctors or travel clinics. €400 for shots would almost be the price of the flights so I certainly hope this is not the case.

purcela

The Rabies vaccination is only necessary if you are going to be over 24 hours from a hospital at any time, as if you get bitten by an infected animal that is the amount of time you have to get treatment. Basically the vaccination buys you a bit more time. The treatment for rabies if you do get bitten is the same as the vaccination, but you have to get a shot every week for 5 weeks I think. The rabies vaccination consists of 3 shots similar to the Hep B I mentioned above, and is about €50 per shot.

I would imagine that the doctor who quoted you €110 is only giving Hep A, Typhoid and Tetanus.

sinabhfuil

Heading out to SE asia myself and have gotten most vacs. Just wondering though about the malaria tablets. I haven't gotten any but what do they cost and where will i get them? I'm going for a month.

purcela

You will have to ask your gp about malaria tablets, as there are different types depending on how long you are going to be in infected zones

Intervention

Hi, I am just wondering is there a deadline for when you should be getting your shots for SE Asia. I am planning on going on the 10th July but have not gotten any yet. Should I be doing this asap?
Thanks

purcela

Intervention,

With regard to the Hep B shots, as I already mentioned above, you get a course of 3 shots on days 0,7 and 21. Seeing as you leave in 14 days you will not be able to complete this course before you leave.

For the other shots, Hep A (1 shot), Typhoid (can be got with Hep A as 1 shot), Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio (all 1 shot) you can get them all at once and you would want to get them early next week I imagine, to give them time to get into your system.

Similar to Hep B, you wont have the time to get a full course of Rabies shots before you leave, but these are unnecessary depending on where you travel to.

Try to have a rough itinerary that you can show to the doctor because they will prescribe you with Malaria tablets depending on where you are travelling to.

Intervention

purcela wrote: »

Intervention,

With regard to the Hep B shots, as I already mentioned above, you get a course of 3 shots on days 0,7 and 21. Seeing as you leave in 14 days you will not be able to complete this course before you leave.

For the other shots, Hep A (1 shot), Typhoid (can be got with Hep A as 1 shot), Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio (all 1 shot) you can get them all at once and you would want to get them early next week I imagine, to give them time to get into your system.

Similar to Hep B, you wont have the time to get a full course of Rabies shots before you leave, but these are unnecessary depending on where you travel to.

Try to have a rough itinerary that you can show to the doctor because they will prescribe you with Malaria tablets depending on where you are travelling to.

Thanks for the reply. I am a bit worried that because I have left things so late that this might restrict me from visiting certain places. My itinerary at the moment is still pretty vague and so far I only know that I plan on spending time on the islands in the popular backpacker areas throughout Thailand and also hopefully Visit Laos or Vietnam.

purcela

As far as I know, if you go to touristy islands such as Ko Tao, Ko Phangan, Ko Samui, Phi Phi, Phuket etc you don't require malaria tablets, but I am not certain on that, I'm sure the doctor knows. You definitely need malaria tablets for Laos, not sure about Vietnam or Cambodia though. Apparently Malaron are the best malaria tablets to get, less side-effects. But definitely get Typhoid and Hep A vaccinations before you leave, its 1 shot, and it protects you from diseases that are passed through contaminated water, so any cooked foods could potentially have those diseases.