Vaccination Timing

Thingcubed · Dec 11th, 2007, 01:59

I found out that I would be traveling to India and that I would need to get vaccines on rather short notice. While normally I feel I would have had time to set up an appointment to get the vaccinations I'm at the end of my first semester of college and have been focusing on the last projects and finals. While I'm having trouble finding anywhere to get the vaccine where I am (all the places seem to be booked, and I don't have time around my finals anyways), would it be possible/worth it to get them in India? I'm going to be in Goa from the 17th to the 25th. The vaccines were the Hep A and the Typhoid.

Mickey S · Dec 11th, 2007, 02:06

This was discussed in a thread a couple of weeks ago. (Use the search function).

Basically, vaccines take a while to provide protection. If you're planning on getting them in India you may as well not bother.

the opoponax · Dec 11th, 2007, 02:13

You have a much better chance of success pulling out the phone book and calling every doctor in town (even every doctor in the surrounding 10 towns!) than you do of getting everything straightened out fresh off the plane in an unfamiliar place.

Your regular doctor might have some space built into her or his schedule for this sort of thing (longtime patient with last-minute health issue). And I would imagine they probably don't want you going to India and coming back with polio or typhoid or something. She or he might have a partner in the practice or know somebody else who can take you.

What about the emergency room or an urgent care clinic, as a last resort? They might at least be able to give you the number of someone who can see you right away.

Oh, and you can take the typhoid in pill form, which you can pick up at a pharmacy (that's how it worked for me, at least) -- this means that if you can get somebody to just write you the scrip, you might not need a full-on appointment for that one. Typhoid cannot be taken the same day as the Hep A, btw.

One more edit -- I just got back from my appointment with the travel doc. The whole thing took about an hour, door to door. The actual appointment took maybe 20 minutes. If you don't have time for this, I'm not sure you really have time to be going to India in the first place. I mean, how are you going to get a visa?

Mickey S · Dec 11th, 2007, 02:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

Typhoid cannot be taken the same day as the Hep A, btw.

I don't know how it works in the US, but here in the UK we get a combined Hepatitis A/Typhoid vaccine called Hepatyrix. It offers almost immediate protection, but requires a booster after 6-12 months (after which it offers 3 years' protection against Typhoid and lifelong immunity to Hep A).

And, yes, as the opoponax says, it takes no time at all. Just five minutes in the travel clinic. There's no excuse.

the opoponax · Dec 11th, 2007, 03:05

I guess it's different in the US. I was just at the doctor today who gave me 3 options:

1. Have the Typhoid jab today and come back at the end of the week for the rest (Hep A and a polio booster).

2. Have the Hep A and Polio today and come back for a Typhoid jab at the end of the week.

3. Have Hep A and Polio today and get a prescription for the oral Typhoid vaccine to be taken at my leisure, but no sooner than 72 hours and no later than 10 days before I leave.

I went with #3, because with a second appointment I'll have to pay another co-pay. And I'm no fan of co-pays.

machadinha · Dec 11th, 2007, 03:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey S

This was discussed in a thread a couple of weeks ago. (Use the search function)

Vaccination

wonderwomanusa · Dec 11th, 2007, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thingcubed

While I'm having trouble finding anywhere to get the vaccine where I am (all the places seem to be booked, and I don't have time around my finals anyways), would it be possible/worth it to get them in India? I'm going to be in Goa from the 17th to the 25th. The vaccines were the Hep A and the Typhoid.

Call the local public health department and see if they have a shot clinic, as we do in San Francisco. You need to get those vaccinations in plenty of time so that they will protect you -- otherwise, why bother?

Dec 11th, 2007, 01:59	#1
Thingcubed Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: WA, US Posts: 1	Vaccination Timing I found out that I would be traveling to India and that I would need to get vaccines on rather short notice. While normally I feel I would have had time to set up an appointment to get the vaccinations I'm at the end of my first semester of college and have been focusing on the last projects and finals. While I'm having trouble finding anywhere to get the vaccine where I am (all the places seem to be booked, and I don't have time around my finals anyways), would it be possible/worth it to get them in India? I'm going to be in Goa from the 17th to the 25th. The vaccines were the Hep A and the Typhoid.

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Dec 11th, 2007, 02:06	#2
Mickey S Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cymru Posts: 1,176	This was discussed in a thread a couple of weeks ago. (Use the search function). Basically, vaccines take a while to provide protection. If you're planning on getting them in India you may as well not bother.

Dec 11th, 2007, 02:13	#3
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	Just got back from getting my shots a few hours ago, actually! You have a much better chance of success pulling out the phone book and calling every doctor in town (even every doctor in the surrounding 10 towns!) than you do of getting everything straightened out fresh off the plane in an unfamiliar place. Your regular doctor might have some space built into her or his schedule for this sort of thing (longtime patient with last-minute health issue). And I would imagine they probably don't want you going to India and coming back with polio or typhoid or something. She or he might have a partner in the practice or know somebody else who can take you. What about the emergency room or an urgent care clinic, as a last resort? They might at least be able to give you the number of someone who can see you right away. Oh, and you can take the typhoid in pill form, which you can pick up at a pharmacy (that's how it worked for me, at least) -- this means that if you can get somebody to just write you the scrip, you might not need a full-on appointment for that one. Typhoid cannot be taken the same day as the Hep A, btw. One more edit -- I just got back from my appointment with the travel doc. The whole thing took about an hour, door to door. The actual appointment took maybe 20 minutes. If you don't have time for this, I'm not sure you really have time to be going to India in the first place. I mean, how are you going to get a visa?

Dec 11th, 2007, 03:05	#5
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	I guess it's different in the US. I was just at the doctor today who gave me 3 options: 1. Have the Typhoid jab today and come back at the end of the week for the rest (Hep A and a polio booster). 2. Have the Hep A and Polio today and come back for a Typhoid jab at the end of the week. 3. Have Hep A and Polio today and get a prescription for the oral Typhoid vaccine to be taken at my leisure, but no sooner than 72 hours and no later than 10 days before I leave. I went with #3, because with a second appointment I'll have to pay another co-pay. And I'm no fan of co-pays.

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