Tanzania Bound--Shots?
 

What are people recommending in regards to shots and medication, before, during and after...malaria? yellow fever?,,etc....

If this is your first safari, then get everything.

If it's not, then just get the malaria medicine......:-)

It's all personal preference. This one we just took malarone and a good attitude.

I got:
Yellow Fever
Typhoid
Booster for Tetnus and Polio
Hep A and C
Malarone pills
Cipro Pills (just in case)

davis -

There is no inoculation for Hep C. Did you mean B?

I got something for Hep A&C. I just checked my vaccination card.

Just off the CDC site.

http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4075abc.pdf

see column to the right and read:

"No inoculation against Hep C"

There is a combo A&B inoc called Twinex. Assume this is what you received, but error in recording on your vacine card.

thanks...i see i need to get going on this...we are leaving Nov. 8th...this is our first safari...has anyone heard of a tourist coming down with any of these things? Hate to overdo the shots...

Please make sure that you leave enough time to get the shots in stages if you have not been innoculated in the past. I actually met someone who was the 1 in a million chance that getting shots all at once paralyzed him.

I am not sure if he was pulling my leg, as he still travels to Africa each and every year and gets his shots, but he did tell me that was why he was paralyzed from the waist down.

He told me to make sure that I always had them in stages.

Lynda -

If this person keeps returning to Africa, why is he getting shots again. Yellow Fever, Tetanus, HepA&B last for 10/years; Polio booster should last rest of ones life. Thyphoid pills do last longer than the shot, but not sure how much... so I can see need for these pills again at sometime. Malaria tabs are what has to be taken each visit.

Sounds like he was pulling your leg :)

But, agree about spacing out the jabs. Some of us are just naturally more sensitive and, if many jabs needed, should be scheduled accordingly with the physician.

Very interesting...when I contacted the travel dept. of the hospital in my area...they asked my departure date..then booked me only a couple of weeks before departure.....I hope my legs work while I am in Tanzania........

Sandi, are the Hep A & B shots still a series of 3 shots a month apart? If so, I8Ds, you might want to check to see if you can go sooner.

It does sound like the guy was 'pulling' my leg, I never thought of the fact that you certainly don't need shots every year. Or maybe he was just saying when it comes time for them again, he still gets them, as I believe he had been going for many many years. For the life of me I can't remember where I met him, or who he was, I just remember what he said - and that's bad as I am sure it was only a month or two ago!

Oh - my goodness, no, I just remembered, it was Carolines who met him, she was telling me about this when I met her, so she may want to jump in here....

I have to get help for this bad memory, wow.

LyndaS -

Have only had the HepA, 2 jabs, the 2nd 6/mo to 1/yr after the first. Then good for 10/years.

No reason for the HepB, which is recommended for those with long stays, working for Peace Corp, NGOs in contact with local communities; certainly have no intention of having unprotected sex. So never had this.

When it's time to re-jab, will see what the doc has to say and offer (and price). If I don't need it, don't take it. Still have 4/tabs for thyphoid and haven't swallowed them. All personal.

The gentleman in question, whom I had mentioned to Lynda a short time ago, was in fact my seat mate on our overnight flight from Nairobi to London this past February. (I was forced to purchase a business class ticket in Nairobi for the return trip to Canada, due to the horrible aftermath of my encounter with "Nairobi fly" in the Serengeti.)
This gentleman was indeed paralysed in the lower extremities with a type of vaccination-induced myelitis several years ago as he prepared for a trip to East Africa. He is a businessman with interests in Kenya and still travels there from London regularly. He had his personal attendant with him on the flight. Apparently legal action was unsuccessful due to the known risk, however slight, of neural damage resulting from vaccinations. There was never ANY discussion of "spacing vaccinations", or his continuing to receive any shots whatsoever!

Can I piggyback onto this thread and ask if YF is required to enter the Seychelles if flying from Kenya?

carolines -

Sorry to have been so unbelieving about the guy with lower body paralysis, but it did seem strange. However, as you mention multiple jabs at one time, I can certainly see this causing a problem for some people. Having additional inocs since, as many of those recommended last quite a number of years... seemed strange he'd still need, as the details were conveyed by LyndaS. Glad to know this gentlemen is still going about his travels despite his inconvenience.

Patty - As to YF for the Seychelles. If you've been to East Africa, you have to have had YF inoc. Don't know how soon between leaving EA to SEZ, but if scheduled in 1/trip... definitely.

On our visit in '98 when YF was required when passing between Kenya/Tanzania (though you didn't need it for Kenya), we had the inoc, which was never checked at the border. But glad to had, as when we continued to SEZ, everyone coming off that flight from NBO had to show their YF booklet. Even those paxs that had flown on this BA flight from LHR, having only stopped in NBO (not even getting off the plane) had to have that YF card. Islands want to protect themselves every which way.

If you were flying from Europe to SEZ non-stop, then you did not need proof of YF. But, I'd check current details.

Thanks Carol for straightening me out - if I could remember things right it would be so much easier to convey information! Sorry for botching it, I'm trying to remember to get help on my memory problem :-)

Thanks, Sandi! We'll be heading directly to SEZ after 12 nights in Kenya.

Patty -

When? How many days in SEZ, which island/s? Where staying?

Believe I recall you mentioned The Northolme on Mahe? Is this for the entire stay? Any other island? Should get to Praslin, smaller island and easier to get to La Digue Is. and nearby island tours.

Mid-February, only 4 nights on Mahe. Unfortunately, no more time. Yes, staying at the Hilton Northolme. Still looking into day trip possibilities. I've just started my research :)