Talk about confusing advise on immunizations.

ribbony · Oct 16th, 2009, 03:32

We went to a doctor 6 weeks ago to check up on any shots we needed for our trip to Nepal and India (flying on 18th Oct). The doc went through the list and said we were Ok and did not need shots. The Hep A & B serology came back showing protection. We had most other shots in 2004 on our loast trip to India, and he said we were covered. Great.

Then yesterday morning we went to a Doc in Sydney to get some scripts for travel medicines and a letter to cover travelling with them. He insisted on checking on the immunizations, he then produced a list of shots we needed. Cholera, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, pathological eColi, etc. Shocked we went to the chemist nearby and found it was over $500 just for the jabs.

We have not had them yet as we ponder the situation.

As we are going to Nepal first (trekking)we were wondering if we should get them in Kathmandu at a clinic like the Ciwac, or similar. But I have emailed them yesterday and being festival time, no reply, understandably.

Any one willing to give us some advise on this. We have both been to Nepal & India heaps of times and have had dozens of innoculations over the decades of travel. We are only talking boosters.

rekahs · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:13

When you say you had most other shots in 2004, does that mean you had all the boosters then? If so, you are covered.

Shivani Skydancer · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:14

G'day! Personally, I would only get the Tetanus booster and that is free from any GP in Australia! Just be sensible with the usual precautions such as drinking only boiled or filtered water, peeling fruits and veg, etc. Also, for the low lying areas you would need to take measures against being bitten my mossies, as Japanese Encephalitis is endemic still at this time of year.

Hope someone else can help you with the costs of the other jabs.

Happy travels :-)

Haylo · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribbony

The doc went through the list and said we were Ok and did not need shots.

The list of what? Immunisations recommended for the areas you are visiting, or the list of immunisations you have already had?

Quote:

Doc in Sydney ,snip> He insisted on checking on the immunizations, he then produced a list of shots we needed. Cholera, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, pathological eColi, etc.

That looks like a perfectly reasonable list, but again, is it a list of recommended immunisations, or is it just the list of things that travellers need to be immunised against?

Do you not have immunisation cards, with details of which jabs you've had, and when they are due for boosters? If not, ask for one when you have the next set.

If for some bizarre reason you are not already covered for tetanus and polio, change your doctor. Everyone should be immunised against those, whether or not they plan to travel.

ribbony · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:31

Mar 2004 - Typhim Vi, also had it many times before, last time before that was in 1996.

Mar 2004 - Mencevax ACWY, also had it numeroust times before and in 1996, 1990, 1986, etc.

Mar 2004 - Sabin (polio), and as a child.

1999 - Tetanus, but also many times before that.

2004 - yellow fever - first time.

Haylo · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:43

Tetanus, I think, lasts only ten years, if that's the case you are due for a booster. Polio lasts a long while too. This is only a travel site though, we cannot offer specific advice about whether or not you need a particular vaccination.

I suggest you go back to your doctor with that information, or better still visit a specialist travel clinic and ask for a definitive answer on when each of those immunisations requires their booster.

goingback · Oct 16th, 2009, 04:49

Hi Ribbony, I fully understand your frustrations. It took us a long time to receive consistent advice re our vaccinations. In the end we asked for confirmation of the source/authority for the advice we received together with reassurance that it was up to date. Our own local GP came through in the end although we had a second opinion from a private travel clinic.

However, anti-malarials are another matter! we are still waiting for confirmation that we only need them for the Andamans - or also for Varanasi and Kolkata.

Good luck with your trip.

Haylo · Oct 16th, 2009, 05:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by goingback

However, anti-malarials are another matter! we are still waiting for confirmation that we only need them for the Andamans - or also for Varanasi and Kolkata.

There is no simple answer for the malarials question. Longer term the drugs cause more harm than good, they can have extreme side effects that make certain drugs unsuitable for people with a certain medical history, it depends on the time of year you are travelling; there is also the factor of people on anti malarials being less careful about avoiding mosquitoes, thus increasing the likelyhood of contracting Dengue fever, for which there is no immunisation and no treatment.

The bottom line is that while there are some areas of India (eg Assam) where anti malarials are definitely needed, for the rest of the country they are a matter of personal choice. While I'm sure that you will find a doctor who says "yea or nay", whether you choose to take them has to be your own informed decision.

There have been some excellent discussions on the subject on here, you might find them useful.

ribbony · Oct 16th, 2009, 06:30

Just went to a local medical clinic and had the Tetanus/Diptheria booster, free if I don't mention travel.

We have decided not to worry about the Cholera, as looking on travel med sites, it appears not necessary for travel where we are going, at the time of the year we are travelling.

That leaves typhoid and mencevax. At least the list is smaller.

We had decided against anti malarials as we are trekking in Nepal (not the Terai), travelling in Rajasthan in Nov, Himatchal Pradesh in Dec. Minimal risk from what we can assess and past experience. If we were heading off to the more tropical areas then that's another matter. We lived in Nepal in the 1980's and only took antimalarials if we were going to be in the terai for extended periods.

PS: Nobody mentioned having Swine Flu shots, not one doctor. I have never had a flu shot even though I get plenty of exposure to people with flus and colds.

goingback · Oct 17th, 2009, 05:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

There is no simple answer for the malarials question. Longer term the drugs cause more harm than good, they can have extreme side effects that make certain drugs unsuitable for people with a certain medical history, it depends on the time of year you are travelling; there is also the factor of people on anti malarials being less careful about avoiding mosquitoes, thus increasing the likelyhood of contracting Dengue fever, for which there is no immunisation and no treatment.

The bottom line is that while there are some areas of India (eg Assam) where anti malarials are definitely needed, for the rest of the country they are a matter of personal choice. While I'm sure that you will find a doctor who says "yea or nay", whether you choose to take them has to be your own informed decision.

There have been some excellent discussions on the subject on here, you might find them useful.

Thanks Haylo, there are some good discussions on here. However, after having taken the advice of our GP, private medical centre and travel clinic (also checking their sources of information and a little info from Dr Google!!) we are as happy as we can be.

Hope you have packed now

Haylo · Oct 17th, 2009, 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribbony

PS: Nobody mentioned having Swine Flu shots, not one doctor.

I would be extremely surprised if swine flu shots are available on demand in your country yet.

We're pretty ahead of the game here in the UK and our immunisation programme for vulnerable groups is only just about to start.

ribbony · Oct 17th, 2009, 07:44

Hi Haylo
Sorry to tell you, but swine flu shots are given out at doctors surgeries. So much so they are letter box dropping in the suburbs of Sydney to attract patronage to particular clinics, especially new ones. There are big signs up, "Get you free swine flu shots now" put out by the health dept.

goangoangone · Oct 17th, 2009, 07:57

Make sure polio and tetanus are up to date. I always rhought tetanus was 10 years but someone else thought 3 years. I'd be surprised if there was a different dosage.

ribbony · Oct 17th, 2009, 08:25

Just had the typhoid shot this morning, tetanus yesterday. That's about it for this trip.

Haylo · Oct 25th, 2009, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribbony

Sorry to tell you, but swine flu shots are given out at doctors surgeries.

Don't be sorry at all, that's great news!

Hopefully regular flu shots are available too - here in the UK, it's only "at risk" groups who can get those free of charge.

Oct 16th, 2009, 03:32	#1
ribbony Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 59	Talk about confusing advise on immunizations. We went to a doctor 6 weeks ago to check up on any shots we needed for our trip to Nepal and India (flying on 18th Oct). The doc went through the list and said we were Ok and did not need shots. The Hep A & B serology came back showing protection. We had most other shots in 2004 on our loast trip to India, and he said we were covered. Great. Then yesterday morning we went to a Doc in Sydney to get some scripts for travel medicines and a letter to cover travelling with them. He insisted on checking on the immunizations, he then produced a list of shots we needed. Cholera, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, pathological eColi, etc. Shocked we went to the chemist nearby and found it was over $500 just for the jabs. We have not had them yet as we ponder the situation. As we are going to Nepal first (trekking)we were wondering if we should get them in Kathmandu at a clinic like the Ciwac, or similar. But I have emailed them yesterday and being festival time, no reply, understandably. Any one willing to give us some advise on this. We have both been to Nepal & India heaps of times and have had dozens of innoculations over the decades of travel. We are only talking boosters.

Oct 16th, 2009, 06:30	#9
ribbony Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 59	Just went to a local medical clinic and had the Tetanus/Diptheria booster, free if I don't mention travel. We have decided not to worry about the Cholera, as looking on travel med sites, it appears not necessary for travel where we are going, at the time of the year we are travelling. That leaves typhoid and mencevax. At least the list is smaller. We had decided against anti malarials as we are trekking in Nepal (not the Terai), travelling in Rajasthan in Nov, Himatchal Pradesh in Dec. Minimal risk from what we can assess and past experience. If we were heading off to the more tropical areas then that's another matter. We lived in Nepal in the 1980's and only took antimalarials if we were going to be in the terai for extended periods. PS: Nobody mentioned having Swine Flu shots, not one doctor. I have never had a flu shot even though I get plenty of exposure to people with flus and colds. Last edited by ribbony : Oct 16th, 2009 at 08:23.

Oct 17th, 2009, 07:57	#13
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	Make sure polio and tetanus are up to date. I always rhought tetanus was 10 years but someone else thought 3 years. I'd be surprised if there was a different dosage. __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Oct 16th, 2009, 04:13	#2
rekahs Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 32	When you say you had most other shots in 2004, does that mean you had all the boosters then? If so, you are covered.

Oct 16th, 2009, 04:14	#3
Shivani Skydancer ॐ Ψ ॐ Ψ ॐ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 240	G'day! Personally, I would only get the Tetanus booster and that is free from any GP in Australia! Just be sensible with the usual precautions such as drinking only boiled or filtered water, peeling fruits and veg, etc. Also, for the low lying areas you would need to take measures against being bitten my mossies, as Japanese Encephalitis is endemic still at this time of year. Hope someone else can help you with the costs of the other jabs. Happy travels :-)

Oct 16th, 2009, 04:31	#5
ribbony Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 59	Mar 2004 - Typhim Vi, also had it many times before, last time before that was in 1996. Mar 2004 - Mencevax ACWY, also had it numeroust times before and in 1996, 1990, 1986, etc. Mar 2004 - Sabin (polio), and as a child. 1999 - Tetanus, but also many times before that. 2004 - yellow fever - first time.

Oct 16th, 2009, 04:43	#6
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	Tetanus, I think, lasts only ten years, if that's the case you are due for a booster. Polio lasts a long while too. This is only a travel site though, we cannot offer specific advice about whether or not you need a particular vaccination. I suggest you go back to your doctor with that information, or better still visit a specialist travel clinic and ask for a definitive answer on when each of those immunisations requires their booster.

Oct 16th, 2009, 04:49	#7
goingback Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 237	Hi Ribbony, I fully understand your frustrations. It took us a long time to receive consistent advice re our vaccinations. In the end we asked for confirmation of the source/authority for the advice we received together with reassurance that it was up to date. Our own local GP came through in the end although we had a second opinion from a private travel clinic. However, anti-malarials are another matter! we are still waiting for confirmation that we only need them for the Andamans - or also for Varanasi and Kolkata. Good luck with your trip.

Oct 17th, 2009, 07:44	#12
ribbony Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 59	Hi Haylo Sorry to tell you, but swine flu shots are given out at doctors surgeries. So much so they are letter box dropping in the suburbs of Sydney to attract patronage to particular clinics, especially new ones. There are big signs up, "Get you free swine flu shots now" put out by the health dept.

Oct 17th, 2009, 08:25	#14
ribbony Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 59	Just had the typhoid shot this morning, tetanus yesterday. That's about it for this trip.