Vaccinations!!
 

We are traveling to South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania. We are U.S Citizens. What shots do you reccommend we get before our trip?

Thank you!

Check the CDC site at www.cdc.gov/travel (select country).

Generally, for adults who haven't been inoculated since childhood, for travel anywhere should be current on the basics, as

- Tetanus (DPT) - good for 10/years
- Hep A - good for 10/years or lifetime

both of the above can be contracted even if never leaving home.
- Polio (booster) - good for lifetime

Yellow Fever is required for entry to South Africa if having visited Tanzania or other sub-saharan countries first. If arriving SA first you probably don't need for Tanzania, but then I'm not sure where Zambia fits in.

And, of course, you'll require malaria meds. Many use the newer Malarone, though more expensive, usually has less side-effects than the older Lariam. With the former, you start taking 1/tab daily starting 2/days prior arriving Africa, then daily (suggested to take with dairy, why breakfast is good, though some take with dinner... but always with food), then for 7/days after departing Africa. The Lariam, is a weekly pill, from 2/weeks prior arriving, while in-country, and 3/weeks after departing. The cheapest and often prescribed for those who can't for whatever reason take the other two would be doxycyline. However, this has side-effects such as sun sensitiving (must use SPF), women can develope "thrush" (discharge) and you have to take prior, daily and for 28/days after returning home.

Always discuss with your personal physician as these relate to your health history. Or visit with a Tropical Diseases specialist, Travel Med Clinic. And, for the YF jab, those docs, clinics or hospitals authorized by your State to provide.

Read all the info, print it out, make appointment with doc and go from there.

Note:
1) the first three inocs maybe covered by health insurance, but don't be surprised if not.
2) YF definitely isn't covered and can $150-$225/person
3) YF inoc becomes effective ater 10/days of initial jab; allow sufficient time before travel to take care of this and all other medical requirements (at least a month prior).

We went to a travel clinic in our area as our GP doesn't have the required shots on hand. None of it was covered by our health insurance.

We are traveling to Kenya/Tanzania in June & July 2010. We started getting our shots in December 2009 and one a month after as I am extremely sensitive to shots. UGH!!!

Our family doctor did not have the required shots on hand either. I decided we would go to the health department as a travel doctor was very, very expensive. Our health department has been renovated and quite clean.

As Sandi recommended visit the CDC website, read carefully as to which shots are recommended for the country's you are visiting.

Have a great trip.

We were in Tanzania from 12/31/09 to 2/3/10. Some insurance companies cover YF, ours did. We also took Typhoid at the recommendation/direction of the infectious disease specialist at our clinic.

Another suggestion would be to get some anti-biotics from your doctor before you go. This way if you have any issues that would require them, you have them on hand. I also carried a pretty extensive medical kit (lots of places sell them) whenever we were farther out in Africa.

There is a shortage on the yellow fever vaccine so get on their waiting list well before you needed it.

Does anyone know if the yellow fever vaccine is required if you are going to Egypt (Cairo) first then Kenya?

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...fever.aspx#823

No YF in Egypt so Kenya won't require it coming from CAI.

That's good news. Thank you Patty!