Vaccinations for Turkey?
 

My wife and I will be travelling to Turkey in May. We have been receiving conflicting advice as to the need to be vaccinated against diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis A. I would appreciate the views of Fodorites who have been to Turkey as to whether we need vaccinations before we travel through Turkey.

Kilsherry

While Fodorites are an incredible source of info, for medical info I would first consult the CDC website (google something like "CDC + Travel + Turkey") and then check with your doctor or travel clinic.

Hi Kilsherry - In several visits to Turkey I've never been advised to get vaccinations.

Steve

We did not get any vaccinations for Turkey and felt fine with that even with our 6yo child with us.


I would also remember that travel clinics have a vested interest in selling you vaccines as they make money that way.

The usual, same as needed for travelling to the US. (thyphoid, Hep A., tetanus of course) B only for longer stays. It's the most expensive of them, but as the doctor says, still cheaper that getting a hepatitis.

But really it's a non issue, just get the vaccinations.

This is the CDC page on Turkey: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationTurkey.aspx. Now is a good time to check with your doctor to see if your vaccinations are up to date. If they are, you won't need many extra ones for your trip.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll take comfort from the experience of Steve and WTnow and go with my initial instinct, ie not to bother with the vaccinations.
Kilsherry

Do as you like, but I take medical advice from my doctor. :-)

And stay away from seafood. Eating seafood is a sure way to catch a Hepatitis A. Most locals are immune, because they already had it in their childhood (As have most elder Germans over here).

You'll be the one person not immune, nice thought :D

The only way you'll get Hep A from seafood is if you eat infected RAW seafood.

If cooked there's no chance of getting Hep A. To avoid seafood in Turkey is your loss

There seems to be a wide variety of opinion on this, so check with your doctor. Our doctor, a travel medicine specialist in NYC, recommended both typhoid and hep A vaccinations, so that's what we did.

Right, at least 80% of all RAW seafood is infected. So it has to be properly cooked or avoided. ;-)

My Doc recommended Hep A for anyone who travels. He said it is a common illness that is caused from seafood and also people who have it, who don't wash their hands after using the restroom, and then they handle your food. Gross, but true.
So, since we like to travel, we all got the Hep A including our teens. I think it is better to be safe than sorry. There are many places including in the US, where not everyone follows the handwashing rules.
I am considering getting HepB now as well. It can't hurt.
Also, making sure your tetnus is up to date is not a bad idea either.

I went in August. The only thing the doctor gave me was a prescription for Cipro (anti-diarreal), just in case.

I've already updated my Hep shots (Twinrix), which is not a bad idea no matter where you are going.

This is a good common sense article by a doctor and world traveler:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/gr.../overseas.html

I actually got Hep A when I ate raw clams in Haiti many, many years ago in my early 20's. I did not even know I was sick as my only symptom ever was getting yellow, so I did not even know it until there was a problem with an ad I was modeling for.

This is actually quite common with Hep A ...no symptoms. Also like almost all people I have never had a problem since and have a very healthy liver.I also passed on the immunity to my daughter by breastfeeding. My husband has no immunity that we know of ( often people have immunity to diseases that they never had) , but we thought his risk with the vaccine was greater than his risk for getting the disease.

Hep A can easily be avoided, just follow the minimizing risk in the article. This should be done everywhere, not just Turkey as it is everywhere. Some have gotten it from Mcdonalds in the States!

The thing to remember is there are risks with vaccines as well ( more for some people and certain batches are worse etc). So it is important to calculate what is your risk between the disease and the vaccine risks. I have known people who have been maimed for life with vaccines and some have died, so they should not be done lightly without good research.

Hep B is actually one of the most dangerous vaccines....so I would really avoid that one. Most doctors do not go into the risks and less than 10% of the deaths and major injuries from vaccines are reported. There have been proven links to autoimmune diseases like Rhuematoid arthritis, diabetes, MS etc which are worse than hep B disease.

I would think of western Turkey trip similar to western Europe. If one is healthy, washes hands regularly, eats well, and does not live in filth & poverty, I do not see the point in risking a vaccine. Hot food kills any germs that could be spread. YMMV. There are risks either way, so figure what is best for you and yours.

I would not eat at the outdoor stands etc or such though.We were not as careful in Turkey as we were in Morocco and 2 of our party got travel diarrhea there. My husband forgot and let my child drink some lemonade at the Grand Bazaar. She was better in a day though & we stopped at a pharmacy and got a medicine that she just needed one dose of ( & probably not that).

I have lived here for over 10 years now an HAVE NOT done anything differently for myself or my children that I would have done back home in Canada. If your own shots are up to date I cannot see any need for extras.

It is not a problem and you do not need to be concerned. But if you are that worried then go ahead.
We do however get our regular shots from time to time. The usual stuff for the kids as well. Tetanus, chicken pox, mumps measles etc etc......

Just recently the school where my children attend had hepatitis B injections...

My husband and I have already been vaccinated with TwinRx (for Hep A&B).

Typhoid vacc, is recommended...just wondering what local Turkish experts (Murat) think of this? If we don't get the vacc, and just are careful with what we eat/drink in Istanbul, Goreme and Pamukkale, will be be ok?

Donnaleed, don't look for medical advice on Fodor's. Read this for travel health information on Turkey: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationTurkey.aspx

Hi Donnaleed,

I do also participate as every individuals reactions to different environments might be different, to consult with family doctor is a good idea. Normally if you do not eat raw food visitors to Turkey should be fine and I have not hear anything negative to date from the people I met.

I checked the mentioned web site and seing suggestions anti-malaria drugs for Turkey was surprising to me.

Healthy and happy travelling,
Murat

Hi Murat,

The CDC website is one of the best sources for travel health information, and family physicians often refer to it themselves. I agree everyone should go to their doctor for health advice, though.

Local residents can also give good advice, but there is a danger in visitors relying to much upon it. Often, when living in an area, people develop partial resistance to certain diseases. Travelers don't have that resistance, and are therefore more susceptible. The website page I referenced is for travelers.