We are leaving for Grenada soon, and my wife was told we (and 2 sons) should get hep A vaccines. Does anyone have any info? Also, we've always used a birth cert. for travel documents to caribbean islands & had no problem. Does this remain the same since 9/11?

Kevin - I can't comment on the vaccinations but I can tell you that I just returned from Antigua (Oct 10) and we used our birth certificates to travel. No problem mon!!

You might want to copy this link into your browser and then follow the link to Grenada. Then read all the info posted by External Affairs Department Canada. There are also links on this page to Health Canada travel advisories.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR><BR>http://www.voyage.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.htm

As a precaution, my wife and I had the first two of our hep a/b shots before we went to St. Lucia. It probably wasn't necessary, but considering the shots last a lifetime, it wasn't a waste of time or money. Be advised that there is a series of three shots - there is no immunization after the first, partial immunization after the second, and full immunization after the third. You need approximately four weeks between the first and second shots, and it is another six months after that until you can have the third.

Check out this link<BR>http://www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm<BR><BR>&quot;Hepatitis A should be considered if travel to areas of questionable sanitation is anticipated.&quot;<BR><BR>It's not a bad idea, but probably isn't necessary. I have been vaccinated however.<BR>

Tetnus is always a good idea, get one if you are not up to date on that! We always travel with our passports,never a problem.

Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines are two different vaccines. Hep B is a series of three injections, the second a month after the first and the third six months or so later. Hepatitis A is two vaccines, the second six months to a year after the first. I don't know how much immunity you will have after a single Hep A vaccine, but I suspect that eventually all children will be required to be vaccinated against both before attending school.

Just following up on Jean's post... There is now a combined Hep A/B vaccine which I presume should be widely available (we received ours at the travel clinic in Calgary, Alberta Canada ).

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a combined HepA/HepB vaccine being available in the USA anytime soon. Seems like it takes forever for new vaccines to get approved in the states.