NYGemGoddess

I read no vaccines were mandatory, now I am told they are suggested. Yipes.. insurance doesn't cover, what advice can you give me? I am leaving NY June 29
I start in Hanoi and go on personal tour down through entire country to Siam Reap. not roughing it, but of course will be going to villages etc.

thanks for advice>?

Kathie

Go to the cdc website www.cdc.gov/travel

Basically, you need to have routine vaccines you should have whether or not you are traveling: tetanus, MMR (depending on your age), Hep A. In addition, it is wise to have typhoid (get the oral vaccine if you can, it lasts 5 years).

You may also want to look at anti-malarial medication, depending on exactly where you will be and what you will be doing. The two options that are effective in this area are malarone and doxycycline. Doxy must be taken for a full four weeks after leaving the malarial risk area, while you only take malarone for a week after leaving the area. In any case, you will want a good mosquito repellant and will want to use it carefully, as dengue is a risk in all of these areas.

I believe the NYC department of health offers some of these vaccines at a low cost. And some of these will be covered by your insurance (like tetanus, if you need a booster).

doug_stallings

What are you seeing? The recommended vaccines on the CDC web site are Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

If you haven't had the Hep A and B vaccines already, then it's too late. They take several shots over months, but you really should do those whether you travel or not.

I've had Typhoid vaccine before, and I took the pill form. But I'm told it's still only about 70% effective if that matters to you. I was able to get the pill at CVS, which had it in stock (it has to be refrigerated), and I had no side-effects. It wasn't horribly expensive. The shot I found almost impossible to find (my doctor doesn't keep those vaccines on hand in the office, and I didn't want to pay to visit a travel medicine specialist).

The only thing is you need to take the typhoid vaccine in the next couple of days, or it's not going to matter.

Kathie

With two weeks, you can get partial immunity from the first shot of the Hep A vaccine if you get it now. Tetanus is effective pretty quickly if you are in need of a booster.

The typhoid vaccine is "only" 70-80% effective, but since there are antibiotic-resistant strains in SE Asia, it is worth getting, IMO.

NYGemGoddess

thanks everyone.. based on your replies and phone calls to cvs I decided that it might be impossible to get the typhoid
shot.. cvs has it orally.. wants a script. and the travel specialists are charging a significant fee to walk in then each vaccine is pricy too.
so I found a neighborhood clinic who said they will rx me for the hepatitus a ( they said to do it NOW) and oral typhoid.
and I get it filled and go back to them for shot. the whole thing will be affordable ..just hope the clerk who answered the phone is correct.
thanks for your advice , it corroborates what I thought.

I had numerous pre-china shots including tetnus in 2008, but I think it is too late to get that in time for it to be effective now.. any body know?

doug_stallings

Tetanus lasts for about 10 years, so there's probably no need to get that or any of the shots you got for China again so soon.

Elainee

In NYC call Travelmed at the Interchurch Center at Columbia U. I went to them for the yellowfever shot for Tanzania which is required. Much cheaper and very very nice and helpful.