I'm new to Asia travel...and I just realized my insurance does not cover any immunity shots.

Two questions - If I travel to BKK< Chiang Mai, Chian Rai, Golden Triangle area, and maybe other areas around N. Thailand, but stay at guest houses (not trekking) what shots do I absolutely need? I will shop, see the sights, stroll around the night markets, maybe walk a highly populated trail to see a temple, and visit the Elephant Conservatory for a day. It's been suggested by a nurse at a travel clinic in NYC that I get Typhoid, Hep A, Polio, and Tetnus shots? Do I need all of these shots?

If so, does anyone know of affordable methods for these immunity shots? Am I missing something here...this will cost more than the two weeks stay in Thailand! Help!!

my wife feels that you would need all of those that you mention and she says we also took malerone for malaria...

but you should go by what your health people have suggested....also look at the cdc site....

you could check with health clinics around nyc to see if they offer any of these and also with the nyc health department to see if they could steer you to a low cost clinic...

also ask your travel agent for a suggestion if you are using one...

i would also call my insurance carrier again and re check with them to make sure...ask if there is a grievance procedure you could follow that might yield something for you..

all avenues are worth the effort...

i suppose it might be worth while to also e mail clinics in bkk to see what they would do for you....the B---- hospital often mentioned here has good clinics and an international department....

of course some shots may not take affect for a month or so after administering---build up your immunity...

i am not a doctor so it is best you get the info from them... and go by what they say...

Thanks for your feedback! I'm looking for loopholes in the city hospital system. A friend who is a doctor told me that her finance people suggested I go to a city hospital, and pay for a clinic visit, with that anything administered is covered. Not sure but worth looking into!

Just to add to what Bob has said...

the cdc website is www.cdc.gov/travel

Some of the shots you have listed you may already be up to date on. The tetanus shot lasts 10 years (and certainly should be covered by your health insurance as it's a quality indicator), depending on when you last had a polio shot and what type you may be covered for life.

The Golden Triangle area, is the only area you mentioned that is considered malarial risk. If you decided to go to Mae Hong Son that is also a malarial risk area. The two anti-malarials that are effective in this area sre Malarone and Doxycycline.

Bob's wife would know this, put I thought shots like Polio you get as a kid and taht's that once you've had, also Tatanus surely should be kept up to date 'wherever' in the world you are.

James, you are quite right that you should have your tetanus up do date even if you are staying at home! The polio is more complex, as some of the vaccines used in the US many years ago did (when many last had polio vaccines) not confer life-time immunity, though the newer vaccines do. So depending on when you were last vaccinated for polio you may or may not need a last booster.

Those that are listed will serve you well even if you stay home in one way or another. Tetanus and Hep-A especially; Polio and Thyphoid also when traveling. And, of course, the malaria meds.

As Kathie mention, check our the cdc site and see their recommendations.

I'm also in NYC, and was fortunate enough to have obtained my inoculations from my primary care physician thru the HMO at no additional cost... only the office visit co-pay. Admittedly, I still, one of these days, have to get Thyphoid, bad girl!

As to where you can obtain their inoculations for way less then the Travel Clinic... check the Public/City Health Clinics, but advise them what you're looking for to be certain they have supply and ascertain cost beforehand - you don't want to be surprised. They can also write your script for malaria meds, but be aware that Malarone is expensive; while doxy is less expensive you have to take for a longer period of time and may become sun sensitive - if a women you may have thrush (discharge problems).

Remember - most these inoculations, once gotten, will hold you for a good 10 years; polio for life.

Hope this helps.

Checked last month. CDC is not recommending antimalarials for Thailand, even in the North, this year.

Immunizations: depending on your age, you might consider an MMR. And Hep B might be useful, too.

You might consider taking some Tamiflu, about $70 per person. If you, hopefully, don't use it, you can use it for a renegade strain here in the US. Or, save it for the pandemic.

hi50phd, the cdc has not recommended anti-malarials for Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai for at least 20 years, but it continues to recommend anti-malarials for the border areas (so the Golden Triangle and Mae Hong Son, for instance, are risk areas). Here's the current quote from the cdc website:

Thailand: Limited risk in the areas that border Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. No risk in cities and major tourist resorts (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Phuket Island, and Ko Samui.)

also you need them for koh chang

Kathie did you take anti-malaria pills when you were up north?

Yes, I took malarone when I was in the Golden Triangle. There were plenty of mosquitoes at dusk. You are really way out in the country.