First Timer - Immunisation?

[Cliver 0]

Off next March 06 for first time to Pattaya/Bangkok, any essential immunisation needed and if so when do you need to get them. Thanks.

[Mescalito 19]

Before I made my first trip, I got a tetanus shot (my last one had been 20 years ago) and went through the Hep A & B series. It's a 3-step process: 1 shot, then another 30 days later, and the 3rd and final shot in another 90 days (I think it was 90, anyway).

[BillWilson 10]

Yes:

 

1) Liver innoculation so you can drink more

 

2) Emotion block so you dont fall in love, day 1

 

Before returning to Farangland:

 

1) Book your return ticket and hotel

 

2) Get a bottle of Thorizine to put up with the bullshit in Farangland untill

you get back to LOS

[Slobbert 0]

The first time I went to Thailand my doctor gave me some pills for malaria prevention. He did this only because I golf a lot and he figured my chances of getting bitten by skeeters were greater.

 

I only took them the one time. Nothing happened and I haven't had any kind of innoculations for any of my subsequent trips. I don't go off into the provinces much but if you plan to do so, it might be a good idea to follow Mescalito's advice for tetanus and hepatitis at the very least.

[Owen` 2]

FYI tetanus is interesting. For a time the UK and US did not have equivalent immunization schedules for tetanus. The reason for this is it is not 100% clear that

a sequence at childhood with a final booster at 18 is not good for a lifetime.

 

I think the UK took that position and the US wanted 10 yr boosters.

 

There is a study of nursing home residents who got tetanus vs those who had vulnerable wounds and did not. Those who did not get it had a common denominator of having been in the military. Military folks get a mandatory booster. They'd left the military in after one term in their early 20's and gotten no more shots, but clearly that one had protected them. The reason the US wants periodic boosters is some other study measured levels of immunity and found they did drop after 10 yrs.

 

Shrug.

[The Mook 105]

Hep A (requires 2 shots 6 months apart), Hep B (requires 3 shots, 1 additional shot 30 days after first shot, then 1 more shot 6 months after first shot), Tetanaus, Typhoid, Malaria (if you do a Hilltribe trek, recommended), Rabies is optional (a very expensive series, 3 shots at approx. $250 USD per shot; only 1 firm manufactures the vaccine at this time).

 

I also recommend bringing Lapiromide (Immodium AD), and purchase 6 tabs of zithromax {250 mg} in BOOTS or any pharmacy for gastrointestinal distress. Take your Immodium as per instructions on box, use zithromax as follows: 2 tabs as soon as symptoms occur and 1 tablet every 24 hours until better.

Edited December 18, 2005 by themook

[The Mook 105]

Also, if you did have not chicken pox as a child, I highly recommend getting this vaccine, too. Getting chicken pox as an adult is much more serious than getting it as a child.

[fd2084 0]

Hep A (requires 2 shots 6 months apart), Hep B (requires 3 shots, 1 additional shot 30 days after first shot, then 1 more shot 6 months after first shot), Tetanaus, ...

Definitely get these. Even though you may not have time to get the final doses, the first couple will give you some measure of protection (so I've been told).

[Eneukman 1]

I have innoculations against polio, typhoid, tetanus (the shot for that included diphtheria) and both Hep A and Hep B. If you're only coming for a short visit Hep B won't be essential. I think that one Hep A shot shortly before you leave will be sufficient to give you some protection but a 2nd shot within the next 12 months will give you protection for 10 years. Hep B is, as has been said above, needs 3 shots over a specified time period.

 

If you're sticking to Bangkok and Pattaya, malaria pills will not be required but would be essential if going to the more out of the way areas.

 

Alan

[Prakanong 0]

Hi

 

Get the

 

DTP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)

Polio Booster

Twinrix (Hep A and shots at day 0, month 1 and month 3 but even if you have only two before you go you will be over 90% covered (you never get to 100% anyway)

 

 

Owen raises some interesting points and indeed differetn studies have different results.

 

It is generally accepted the Hep A is for life now but previously it was thought only 10 years. It can not be stated specifically though as one study in a certain sample seems to show differently but it is thought that is down to bad study design or execution - there are other studies which obvioulsy have to be long term to get over the 10 years etc that look likely to prove the lifetime cover.