How Necessary are Polio & Typhoid Shots....Really?

camelgirl

I just checked my shot record (the yellow International Certificate of Vaccination), it has so many shots I had to add a second fold out page--yipes.

But to answer your question: I also had my initial polio shots in the 50s but had the booster in 1975 & 1980, which according to my information means I don't need it again ever. So I would advise getting the booster polio shot.

While Typhoid shots are only 50 to 70% effective, my last booster (& fifth shot) was in 1997 and I don't actually know if I would need it again. I'd recommend getting it.

I've also had a series of Hep A and Hep B shots.

And while it's probably more dangerous to just be a pedestrian in India, I'd still get the shots!

cyberhippie

Just a quickie Yogagal, consider this pretty much all the deformed beggars you will see in India are polio victims, you know the one with withered legs or arms that stick out as weird angles. Even here in the Netherlands there is a polio outbreak every now and again and I'm sure there are in other European countries too.
Polio is a terrible disease and I'm not sure if there is treatment before muscle/nerve damage sets in something to consider when weighing up the pros and cons of a vaccination!!
The choice is yours!

emjoi

All I can say is that an Indian inlaw of mine returned to Chennai during a rather rainy time, walking in flooded muddy, pooey streets and came back with a case of typhoid. It not only makes you sick, it freaks out the Australian health services who pretty much quaranteened her and her kids in her home, which itself got a thorough disinfecting.

You don't want to go through all that fun.

monkgonemad

you may have had a dpt shot as a child - so some possible polio prevention -but could use booster.

you need a tetnus booster
you need polio (booster)

need typhoid only if you are going to areas that have poss outbreaks (or if its free) - its a crappy vaccine and does not last long anyway. monsoon season/flooded areas/assoc w/ people outbreak

get these somewhere because of all shots you really should MUST have are: polio, tet, hepa


if you are flying thru bkk, you can get shots there.

maybe im old timer - but shots are cheapest form of insurance against some of the nastiest diseases. question is WHY WOULDNT YOU? answer: too cheap, too lazy. ok - so now you have a lifelong case of polio or nasty case of hepa <- was it worth it?

same cyberhippie > choice is yours .......choose WISELY

camelgirl: same me page2...
more dangerous to just be a pedestrian in India
OH YEAH it is.
edwardseco: i think its one shot (in addition)

LuAnnandJawahar

Very very necessary.

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Sama

Have my shot appointment set up and plan on getting the heps, tetanus, polio & typhoid

HELLO! did anyone read my very first sentence?!?

my question -- AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO INDIA -- was about what are the chances of EXPOSURE to polio and typhoid. The question was prompted by a fellow yogini's decision not to get the polio or typhoid shots because she thought her chances of being exposed to these diseases are very low. Maybe she thinks that because she's staying at a Kerala ayurvedic resort for 10 days, who knows? Another woman I know went to Chennai only with a Hep A shot and no malaria meds and no DEET.

So now tell me if there is a % difference in effectiveness of a typhoid shot v. oral.....I mean, is one more effective than the other?

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machadinha

Not that I ever heard of it. You might want to ask the people who'll be jabbing you. Have fun with it. Like I said the typhoid shot may cause some minor and mildly painful swelling and a possible slight fever, it's no big deal. From what I read the oral vaccin may cause stomach cramps with some. I also read about protection with either form lasting from 1 to 3 years so you might want to ask about that while you're at it. I don't know, I remember getting jabbed full of assorted stuff one time then having some blood extracted at the same time to do some test and being positively stoned for several hours following that. Take it easy

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camelgirl

Here's some more typhoid info. The shot and oral (pill) vaccine are both about 70% effective. The shot is good for two years and the pills for 5 years. This info comes from a 2004 Travel Medicine textbook.

darthmilmo

Personally, i'd rather spend the money and get the shots then having to pay the consequences down the road. in the end, you are only talking about a few day's worth from your trip no?

With that said, I totally refused to pay the Rabies shots and the Japanese Encefalities shots and took my chances. Polio and the rest are so economical that I went ahead and tookthem. If you are short on money they get them abroad.

be safe and have fun,
Fernando

Anders

This year there has been 18 polio cases in India. None of them was anywhere near Chennai. source The vaccine does not seem to be very important if going only to Chennai.

Sama

Wow, camelgirl! Very interesting on the length of immunity, shot v. pill....

machadinha

On polio, from a none-too-daft-looking site provided by Yogagal on another recent thread:

camelgirl

That was a very interesting site. I clicked on the maps for 2000 to 2005 and every year is different. In 2003 it was more widespread and over 200 cases. Get the booster shot!!! I'm old enough to remember before they had a vaccine (old fogey alert) and it's simply not worth the risk when a booster is available.

Sama

as I said, I have all my shots scheduled, altho my dr.'s office sounds confused, I think someone going to India is outside the box for them(switched from travel clinic to my own doctor as they will charge it to my insurance company).

I also am old enough (tho probably not as old as you, camelgirl, ) to remember the "early" days of polio vaccination, the vaccine on a sugar cube....

advice for U.S. travelers -- if you don't have a travel clinic nearby or a regular doctor, try your county's health department, you may be able to get shots there. One woman told me the other day (she just came back from South America) that she got her shots from the health dept. in the next county over from me for $12/shot, much cheaper than a travel clinic.

camelgirl

Oh yes, I remember my first pet dinosaur, we called her Speedy. We have quite a few relatives who are well into their 90s which makes me feel quite young still....