What shots do I need for India?
 

I talked to doctor and she says I need
1. Hepatitis A
2. Tetanus
3. Typhoid

THese others are optional:
Rabies, Malaria Pills, Hepatitis B

Should I get them anyway???? I think I should get Malaria pills but I am worried about side effects!

I am only going to only tourist sites Delhi, Agra & Jaipur. We are staying at 4 star and 5 star hotels and are usually very careful of the water/food we eat

My advice is to get them! The sanitation conditions in India are substandard. I have been to India 4 times and caught typhopid once. Its no fun. I was hospitalized 14 days, lost 10 pounds, had fevers as high as 106 (Yes, 106). There is a new malaria pill with a lower incidence of side effects thought we took Lariam w/o and problems at all. My strong advise is to take all precautions. Afterall most MD's get their info from the CDC so it is reliable and up to date. Once we had to take encephalitis shots because there was an outbreak at the time. Good luck, Larry

go to www.cdc.gov/travel and check out the recommendations. This is a very useful website, and gives info on outbreaks so you know if additional innoculations are needed. The three you listed are considered basic for travelers. Note that if your polio innoculation is not up to date, there is still polio in India. Also, check whether you need MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) all of which can be very serious in adults.

Many people choose to get Hep A & B together (called Twinrix).

India has the highest incidence of human rabies in the world. It's worthwhile to read about the rabies vaccine (it works differently than other vaccines) to see how you feel about it.

The cdc site has excellent info on malaria and anti-malarials. Do all your research first, then go back and talk with your doctor again. By the way, the low-side-effect indicence anti-malarial jacket refers to is called Malarone.

Hi

I think that you should follow her advice :-) I have tried Malarone malaria pills by the way and I didn't have any side effects at all.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
gardkarlsen.com

We are going to India next week and got Hep A&B (combo shot), polio, tetanus... I can't remember if we did typhoid..and I don't think our doctor recommended Rabies at all.

But we are doing Malaria pills and are only doing golden triangle as you are. It's better to be safe, no side effects for me but my husband had the runs last night (first night we took them)!