Price of Vaccinations for Thailand...Sickened!

wivy

Hi everyone,

So Im heading to thailand for July and I've booked the appointment for the vaccinations. I nearly had a heart attack when I realised that their going to cost me about €315 euros (For hep a, tetanus, typhoid, rabies and hep b) the boosters for rabies and hep b are really pushing up the price!
Is this the going rate or has anyone else experienced any place cheaper?
Could I claim tax back on these?

Also regarding malaria tablets. Does anyone have any idea how much they cost each? I have been reading in places that some people purchase their doxycycline tablets in boots chemists in the airport in thailand. Has anyone does this and does it work out a lot cheaper in the end?

Would really appreciate some advice!
Thanks a million
Wiv

wallpaper12

Dont get the rabies vaccination, no need for it.
You also dont need malaria tablets, in general, for Thailand. Where exactly are you going?

Pandoras Twist

I just got my shots done today in the Tropical Medical Bureau in Walkinstown (they have branches all over dublin though). I got the 4 recommended shots for €110 and prescriptions for Malarone (malaria tabs) and some other things I might need over there.

Recommended are:
Tetanus
Dyptheria
Typhoid
Hepatitis A

The four vaccinations come in two or three injections

The others are optional. The doctor said you only need to get rabies if you are planning on going on jungle treks or anything like that. The other ones like japanese encephalitis seem more for people who are going very far off the beaten track

You only need to take malaria tablets in certain areas of Thailand. For example, you don't need to take them in Bangkok, Phuket or Kho Pha Ngan and the other islands. It's really just up north they're needed . Also, you also don't need to take them if you are staying in the city of Chiang Mai. You would only need to take them when you are spending the night outside the city limits e.g. on elephant treks with an overnight stay. Because of our plans we basically dont have to take any at all.

The €110 was because of a student discount offer for when two students go in together, however my friend was only getting a booster for one of the shots so his was only €98. I price checked the D2 medical centre and it was €130 for the basic injections

A final point, if you take doxycycline it can interfere with any contraceptive pill you (or your companions) might be on, and secondly you have to take it for up to 2 weeks or so after you leave the malaria area (which means more tablets). If you get the Malarone you only have to take it for 5 days or something afterwards. However, the Malarone is less available in Thailand so you would be better of filling the prescription here.

wivy

thanks a million for the responses everyone!
we're heading up to chaing mai for about 10 days and hoping to do a bit of trekking up there!So I think there'll be the possibility we'll need them!
Thanks for the advice on the malerone. Any ideas how much it costs?

wallpaper12

Your fine you dont need malaria tablets in the north either its only around the border.. I went treking out of Chiang mai and didnt take any.

Here is a bit from the world health organisation which backs up my point

Recommended prevention in risk areas: Mosquito bite prevention only; Recommended prevention in areas near Cambodia and Myanmar borders: Mosquito bite prevention plus atovaquone–proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine chemoprophylaxis

wallpaper12

Also this quote from pandoras twist makes no sense to me
'The doctor said you only need to get rabies if you are planning on going on jungle treks or anything like that'

I would disagree with this doctor, your major risk of catching rabies is from cats,dogs and monkeys in the cities so just stay away from those pesky things! you can usually tell when an animal has rabies anyway.

Gatica

Rabies is extremely serious and if you haven't been vaccinated the counter-actions if you contract it have to be immediate. So you can't be too far from a hospital at any stage. The treatments in those countries are also not necessarily readily available. If you are vaccinated the treatments are far more easily available at medical centres in Asia and you have more time (days rather than hours) to get treatment.
As wallpaper12 said you can catch it from many sources. It also does not have to be a bite, if you get licked by a rabid animal and somehow transfer through food or touch to your own mucous membranes (nose/mouth..) you can catch it too. Therefore they advice getting treatment in those cases as well.
Personally I wouldn't risk it.

Pandoras Twist

He meant trekking would leave you at the highest risk. As mentioned the vaccination only gives you more time to get to a medical centre and I won't be far from one at any time.

Also, there's little or no rabies on Koh Samui because of the work of the Dog Rescue Centre Samui.

The CDC say about visiting Thailand

Rabies vaccination is only recommended for certain travelers, including:
travelers with high occupational risks, such as veterinarians
long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a high risk of exposure
travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals, such as wildlife professionals, researchers, veterinarians, or adventure travelers visiting areas where bats, carnivores, and other mammals are commonly found

Stinicker

I got bitten in Thailand last year and had to get the Rabies post exposure prophylaxis vaccine and it happened whilst trekking North of Chiang Mai.

wivy the prices you have been quoted are insane, I got the two vaccines (Hepatyrix and Boostrix) before I left for Thailand in January 2011 for €100 from my local GP, which covered Tetanus, Dyptheria, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. You can get a different hepatitis vaccine which will cover you for Hep A and Hep B as a combo vaccine also.

I got my Malaria tablets (Malarone) from my medical card for free which I had last year but they can be got cheap enough out in Thailand and certainly cheaper than Ireland. In Thailand you can walk into a chemist and buy prescription medications over the counter which would require a prescription in Ireland. Valium, Viagra etc. No problems

The biggest risk of catching rabies is from feral dogs and cats in the cities and if they do try to bite you then us westerners in sandals and shorts are easy targets. I did notice that there was far less feral animals this year as I made a second trip to Thailand in April and noticed there was less than in 2011.

Most of these vaccines are for life like the rabies one so there is no harm getting them done either, the Hepatitis B vaccine takes several injections over 6 months to administer also, but there is short courses available for those that need it in a hurry also which give a lower protection rate I think.

wivy

thanks a million for the replies everyone..
the tetanus, typhoid, dypheria and hep A works out at 135. So thats okay. Its the Hep B and Rabies vaccinations that are really going to drive up the price
I think I will def get the rabies one based on everything I've heard! It will work out at 35 euro a shot and I've to get three shots of it.
then the hep B is 30 euro per shot and I'll have to get three shots of it!
If I can claim tax back on them at least it will be something! Or would I be able to get something back on the drugs payment scheme?

Stinicker

wivy wrote: »

thanks a million for the replies everyone..
the tetanus, typhoid, dypheria and hep A works out at 135. So thats okay. Its the Hep B and Rabies vaccinations that are really going to drive up the price
I think I will def get the rabies one based on everything I've heard! It will work out at 35 euro a shot and I've to get three shots of it.
then the hep B is 30 euro per shot and I'll have to get three shots of it!
If I can claim tax back on them at least it will be something! Or would I be able to get something back on the drugs payment scheme?

You can get the Hepatitis B vaccine for free at your local STD/GUM clinic also.

Stinicker

Getting the rabies vaccine is a very good idea, I'm sure this woman's family are regretting her not getting it.

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16237150

wivy

thanks stinicker! its scary how easily it can be caught! have my appointment on saturday so will be interesting to see what doc recommends!
would you advise getting the Hep B?

mikedragon32

Folks, please don't ask for, or indeed give, medical advice. It's contrary to the terms of use for Boards.

OP, go with the advice of your GP and if you're in doubt, you could contact a tropical vaccination clinic to verify and/or get a second opinion.

Gatica

Yes, defo call or visit the travel medical bureau (tmb).
They gave us the cheapest quote for Rabies (€30x3, it says 28 online though), Hep A, Hep B or dual Hep A/B vaccines (43/shot). This was cheaper than our GP's, apparently because they can get them in bulk. they also make very little profit from it.
We were also recommended to get the dual Hep A/B vaccine as apparently one gets better chances of immunity from it. I am not advising that you do this, so make sure to check with your own doc.

btw, After 2 shots my OH was told he has 80% coverage from Hep B. He can't get the third vaccines til after 6 months, so that'll have to do us til we get back. Also, confirm this with your doc if you're getting the accelerated course.

The doc at the tmb also said to keep mouth shut in showers and not brush teeth with tap water, to prevent risk of Hep B.

btw, Rabies vaccines is not for life - at least mine was marked for 10 years in my record.

I had to get an antibodies test for Hep B after 1 year (or 2, can't remember) and was told I had the required level. I didn't need any more vaccines and was told am immune for life now. So don't know if you may have been thinking of that particular vaccine...

wivy

Thanks to all for the information.
Apologies to Mod. I will of course be having a consultation with my doctor at the travel vaccination clinic before making any decisions.
Although it will cost more think I will go with all 5. As you say gratia will be vaccinated for a lifetime hopefully when I get them!