Side Effects of Vaccines

iwanttogoback

don't get the typhoid on a hangover, it just extends it for another day!

i had typhoid and tetanus at the same time (different arms)and they both ached for a couple of weeks around the site of the injection.

the queasiness from the typhoid is quite common, and the only side effect i had from my shots, which also included hepatitis and MMR.

Fullred

I have an appointment at a clinic tomorrow. After my appointment, I will update this thread. I have no idea what the doctor will propose.

Be aware though that the medical care in the Netherlands is of the most useless standard ever. Let's see how it goes...


Fullred

goangoangone

What's the matter with you all? 2 in each arm, polio on the tongue. Get it over with.

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edwardseco

We get the Typhoid pill, no muss..

SteamBuff

Oral Polio is no longer available in the UK. It is now part of the DTP Jab.

I had 2 Jabs in one arm ... no problems.

By the way, You often had to give the Polio drops on their own as it was a live vaccine and could not be given at the same time as some other jabs!

Maywind

I got my Polio drops in Delhi in January on the same day as the Typhoid and the Hepatitis shots. So, don't know if I've got Polio Immunity but as of today (now back in Prague), don't have any symptoms...

Fullred

Update:

I got my shots today. My DTP and Hep A vaccinations were up to date, so I did not have to take those.

I got a typhoid shot (Typherix) and I also requested a Hep B shot (Engerix). I will have to go back in 4 weeks for a second Engerix shot, and then a final one 6 months from now.

They said Hep B is not strictly recommended for India, but I mentioned I would be playing contact sports in rural areas so we decided to take it to be on the safe side.

They also said the rabies vaccination is really not required in my case since I don't plan to do stuff like cave exploration or vet work.

As for malaria tablets, they've ordered Malarone tablets for me. They said that I won't have any problems with side effects.

Also, I'm feeling absolutely nothing from the shots I got. Actually, I didn't even feel one of the shots at all when it was being given.

By the way, for those of you in the Netherlands, the clinic I went to is called Meditel. I was surprised by how professional, well-prepared, helpful and friendly they were. The doctor consulting me had done his homework on India and had even printed out a bunch of stuff for me. I highly recommend them!


Fullred

Noodle

I just had a Hep B shot. My GP here in India recommends it.

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slumpainter

After getting my 2nd shot for Hep, I voted Republican.

Glad that's over!

edwardseco

Get 2 on the same day you will vote the right way, Libertarian. When I get anxious on vaccinations I recall what Hep A did to my brother in law, a year to fully recuperate. JE can hyave some significant illness as a side effect so that is a judgement call, IMHO..

Silmaril

Fullred, can I suggest you might want to get a second opinion on the rabies thing? Are you just going to your local GP, or a travel nurse/clinic?

I'm going to Syria for 2 weeks this summer. I won't be more than 24 hours from a major hospital. And I won't be dealing with animals. But the nurse nonetheless strongly recommended I get the vaccine.

According to my nurse:
Basically, rabies if it isn't treated in time is 100% fatal. The jabs give you 48-72 hours to reach a hospital with vaccine rather than just 24. Bear in mind how slow transport can be, and how not all hospitals will necessarily have the treatment. Then, once you reach the hospital, if you've had the jabs you only need to have one ordinary injection, whereas if you haven't you have to have an injection involving some sort of human matter, greatly increasing the risk of complications. Oh, and you can get rabies through any fluid-to-fluid contact with an animal carrying rabies. So a lick that got into a wound or your eyes would also be potentially infectious.

Back to me:
Moreover, Syria isn't full of pesky monkeys - all I'll need to do is avoid dogs, whereas I'm guessing you can't really avoid all monkeys and dogs in India (though obviously you can be careful).

The rabies jabs I'm having cover me for 5 years. After that I'll only need one booster injection every few years (rather than another course of three). I figure that although it costs a bit, it's much better to be safe.

Side effects:
A few people I know have had the rabies jabs and have had mild side effects: they describe it as being kinda drowsy, like coming down with the flue. It lasted less than 24 hours in all cases. I've had my first two and have had absolutely no problems. And they don't seem to hurt, although it's quite a big needle

Sorry for the long post. I'm just really really suprised they said you don't need rabies. On the other hand, I'm no doctor, so if you trust your GP you can save yourself some cash (and I've been swindled . . . )

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machadinha

Fullred is in the Netherlands. I don't think rabies vaccinations for travelers to the tropics are a standard here no. Unless you're gonna work as a vet or similar (spelunking, indeed). Vaccination practices just vary a lot per country where you get them.

His listed vaccinations sound familiar to me, including the Hep B advice (generally advised only for long-term and/or rural stays and/or activities that might involve blood contact. Note that after the completed series you should be protected for at least 10 years which may be a good consideration for frequent travelers, however it doesn't always catch on; after several boosters mine never did, a rather costly joke, not that I necessarily regret it). nb Dutch travelers will generally find the GGD adequate, or they'll be able to recommend another clinic.

btw Avoiding dogs and monkeys in India I really didn't find such a big deal, you'd generally do well to steer clear from the critters anyway, rabies or no rabies.

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lotus blossom

a woman that i knew, staying in the same hotel that i was in benares, had to be hospitalized after being diagnosed with a serious case of Hep A. she had been vaccinated for it.

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Nick-H

In two years here in Chennai I've seen one monkey on the street. If I was spending time where they are more common I'd up the priority of the rabies vaccine. (but then I'm years behind on all my vaccines).

But if a person wants to get it... well, it is just another thing to feel more secure about, so why not!

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edwardseco

Fair point, its not 100%. JE is the worst at about 60% and Cholera is no longer recommended for India. Still, its like the Flu shots that give protection against the major varieties and often mitigate the impact of the illness even when they don't provide complete immunity. I knew a German lad who died from Hep A so serious isn't just being ill..