dwchicago

I am getting ready to go on my honeymoon in September to Thailand. My fiancé and I are super excited. (Btw, this message board has been extremely helpful in planning our trip.)

Does anybody know if I need any shots to travel? If so how many? How far out do I need to start them? Just checking and want to make sure I leave plenty of time in case they are a series.

Thanks for your help.

KimJapan

Start out looking at the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm then consult with a doctor, preferably one familiar with travel medicine. What you might need depends on your own medical history as well as where you are going. Some parts of Thailand are malaria risk areas, so check that out too.

jkgourmet

Though no shots are required, you should at least consider getting Hepatitis. Some parts of the US are getting infiltrated with Hep so it's justifiable even if you aren't leaving home.

Kathie

Yes, do read the cdc website so you are well-informed before you visit a travel med doc.

Basically, you'll want to make sure your routine vaccines are up to date (diptheria-tetanus, MMR, polio). Then you'll want to add "Travelers Vaccines" Hep A, which as jk says, is wise even if you are staying at home, and typhoid for travel to tropical climes such as Thailand.

You are unlikely to need the other vaccines discussed there (Japanese Enchephalitis or rabies) unless you are doing something unusual.

Note carefully whether you will be in a malarial risk area. Much of Thailand is not malarial risk, but there are areas where it is a danger.

lloydboy

My doc said hep a, hep b ( if you're afraid of having to get a tranfusion, etc. ), typhoid, & tetanus booster ( and Malarone for Malaria ).
Do I really need to worry about polio? I'm 43...I thought we were all jacked with so much vaccine as infants our grandkids couldn't get polio...

Lloyd

Kathie

Polio has not yet been eradicated. There have been recent outbreaks in India and Indonesia. Depending on what kind of polio vaccine you had and when you might need a booster.

lloydboy

I know it's still around.
My referrence was to the children in the US at the time I was a child all getting blasted with polio vaccine. I was one of the last of those I think...

Kathie

Lloyd some of the polio vaccines do not confer lifelong immunity, some do. When I first started doing a lot of international travel, I found I needed a booster as I had received a vaccine that only provided a few years of immunity.