inoculations
 

hi Folks

Need your advice again please.
We are going on a Caribbean cruise in November and were wondering if we need inoculations.
we are visiting Columbia, Grand Caymen, Panama, Puerto Limon and Mexico.

Thank you in advance.

Ally

You should check the advce on the CDC's website, and/or the UK equivalent.

You could also visit a travel clinic, I've used Passport Travel.

Thanks for this info thursdaysd.
I will check it out :-)

Ally

While you should certainly get an annual flu shot and be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, these are all normal vaccinations anyone should have. There's nothing specific for these destinations. The CDC web site will confirm that.

thanx doug. i get my annual flu jab this month through work and will ask my GP about my hubby getting it along with any others.

Cheers

Most important is insect repellent..no jabs are available for dengue, chikunguya or zika.

The immunizations most adults need prior to travel are often the ones we have let lapse or never got - tetanus, Hep A and B, etc. Many larger hospitals have a travel clinic - but I believe they just punch your destination and age into the computer and access CDC and/or US Dept of State info. The advantage of a travel clinic over your PCP is that if you require some exotic immunization, they will have it in stock. And they are often more aware of changing infectious disease advisories to specific destination.

Don't the hepatitis vaccines last for 20 or more years?

For malaria there is no vacccine but you can take preventative meds..although your risk may be minimal if you are already using repellent as you should.

I would not go to a travel clinic..they are in it to make money. and may tell you to get shots you don't need. If your physician tells you you need one he doesn't have you can then go to the local center. You are unlikely to really need the exotic yellow fever jab even if it is on the CDC list. That is the main one that people need to visit a travel clinic for (I'm quite lucky as Kaiser in So Cal is one of the places that stocks it and I got it for free..normally it's nearly $200. It lasts for a lifetime (WHO is no longer recommending a booster shot). If you are over 60 it isn't advised anyways.

As far as typhoid, that can sometimes be difficult to obtain but I think supplies have loosened up. If you aren't eating off the ship I wouldn't bother.

You can get the yellow fever shot if you are over 60 if you get a permission letter from your doctor.

If you think your doctor isn't concerned about making money you are either dreaming or very lucky in your doctor. I go to a travel clinic because I want someone who specializes in travel medicine, I can always choose whether or not to take their advice. I have not found Passport Travel pushing anything I considered unnecessary.

I go to Kaiser..nonprofit. They have their own travel medicine department. They do believe in considering side effects and patient history in addition to the CDC maps. When I asked if I should get a chicken pox vaccine for Bolivia they did a blood test first to see if I had immunity..I didn't.

Sure you CAN get a yellow fever jab if you want one, but over 60 the side effects tend to outweigh the risk unless you are going to an area with active outbreaks. I made sure to get mine before I turned 60.