Vaccinations!?!

kira · Dec 3rd, 2003, 04:20

When I visited India in 99 for four months, I was vaccinated against Typhoid, Polio and Hep A.

A woman in my dorm in Kerala contracted Hep A, while a whole group of other women I met there got very sick with some other disease I can't quite remember the name of (possibly Malaria?) They had been traveling together in other parts of the country when they got sick. I remember seeing them walk around like zombies - soooo sick, they could barely function.

The only illness I had while I was there was several bouts of the flu (high fever, sore throat, sinus problems, etc.) Took me a long time to get well each time. I am bringing a lot of vitamins/herbal supplements with me this time.

I also got bit/scratched by a mangy cat. When I went to the hospital to get a rabies shot, the language barrier caused the nurse to let me go without giving me any shots at all. lol

Ohhh - and how could I forget LICE?!!! I hugged my Indian friend goodbye the day I left India and her lice hopped from her head to mine. I didn't feel them until I was on the airplane coming home - it took months to get rid of them....and my poor mother who had to help me comb them out also got lice in the process. It was sheer torture!

There is something about being in India that makes me paranoid about my health. Having met folks who became sick the last time I was there, I feel better about getting immunized this time around.

jaz · Dec 3rd, 2003, 09:14

I was vaccinated against everything going from rabies to japanese E to all the ones already mentioned and then some. Only problem is my Hep A & Hep B, l had the injection in Dec 02 and just noticed l should have a booster after one year but theres no way l'm having that done in China after going to my local hospital and seeing peeps gobbing and pissing on the floors, they use the same needles and the doctors r grubby n don't know what the hell their doing! I will probably not do anything about it, do you think this is wise??

Cheers

angelika · Dec 3rd, 2003, 15:39

mmmmh I'm not a doctor...
But in my opinion, if you needed a booster after about one year and you haven't done (with a amiability of about 2 month) it, I think your whole protection against Hep A & B is gone.
You have to do the total immunisation again. Which means for Hep A & B (for a approx. 10 year protection): one injection first, after one month the next and after one year the last.
But maybe I'm wrong.
If you don't have the time or the money to do the whole immunisation again (its not cheaper (in Germany)), I remember there is the possibility to get a singular immunisation (one injection), which is for about 3 month immunisation.
Doing nothing is maybe the worst thing. Because Hep A is a disease you can get everywhere. Even if you eat an icecream in summer in England.
Hope this helps a bit.

jaz · Dec 3rd, 2003, 15:58

Cheers angelika

The problem is l'm in China and here they don't know the difference between Hep A & HIV! Honestly the medical staff l have come across in China beggars belief. I did actually take 3 injections of both Hep A & B but is was done over a v short period not the standard injection. Is there a real risk if l do nothing? And if so, would it be possible to have it done in India/Nepal?

angelika · Dec 3rd, 2003, 16:40

hui, China sounds scary...
Once again, sorry I'm not a doctor.
I don't know if you have the whole protection when you got immunisation in a very short period and not in the first-one month-one year-period.

But if you like I can find it out (I'm working in a big company and we have your own medical department ---> I can ask they).

I think it is possible to get the immunisation in India or Nepal (Kathmandu) . If you go to a hospital in a big town or maybe better you find an international red-cross-station.

Generell I'm not a big fan of immunisation. I think it is impossible to be protect against everything. But there are some basic immunisations and Hep A & Hep B is definitely one of them.

jaz · Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:01

Angelika

Would appreciate that. I can't rely on any medical advise l get here. If it is pretty essential that l should have a booster l will have to check the possibilities in Nepal/India.

Cheers

Alan D · Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:02

jaz

Your hep A & B is not much overdue. I would advise you contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu when you arrive - they should be able to recommend someone to give you the booster.

This is one of the few immunisations I keep up to date.

angelika · Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:47

okay,

I asked our doctorteam and they told me the following:

for the last injection (the one you get after one year) you have a 2 and 1/2 year period of grace.

That means you have enough time for the last booster.

And the British Embassy in Kathmandu is a really good advice.

jaz · Dec 3rd, 2003, 18:02

Angelika

Thanks your a star, so it sounds like l'm safe then!

Alan D

Cheers. Just emailed the British Embassy in Nepal. Re Kathmandu, l will probably stay at Hotel Poon Hill, have you heard of it? 40%disc US$7.20 a night + free airport pick up.

Alan D · Dec 3rd, 2003, 18:27

jaz, I just looked at hotel Poon Hill's website. It looks a nice place and you certainly got a good price possibly because of the drop in tourism Nepal is experiencing.

Keep in mind though that you are liable to be under a bit of pressure to use their services for trekking and onward travelling tickets etc as they are not making much money on the room rent. Just be firm and don't sign up for anything you don't really want. If you intend going trekking it's much cheaper to do it independently with the budget you are working on.

angelika · Dec 3rd, 2003, 19:22

Poon hill hotel looks nice on the website.
I stayed at the Royal Gorka Guesthouse in Thamel last February. It is also nice, really cheap (sorry can't remember). Simple rooms without bathroom but with balcony and a quite backyard. And a very friendly staff.

Have a great time in India and Nepal.

And please verify if it was correct what my doctors said.

jaz · Dec 3rd, 2003, 21:30

Alan D

Yeah l know, l was abit wary at first but after a 14hr overnight hard seat train journey and then straight onto a flight l thought l'd treat myself 2 somewhere half decent! Only problem is the hard sell and they didn't waste anytime because they mentioned all this trekking, jungle safari, 30% disc etc etc in their reply to my email! And in this email l sent l specifically mentioned l wasn't interested in any trekking!

Angelika

Cheers. I'm already hooked on Nepal/India (thanks to Indiamike!) and l haven't even been yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

mjball · Dec 4th, 2003, 04:49

Don't know if anyone has already written this cause I am in a hurry but the booster is not a guarantee that you are protected for life. You must have a blood test to see if it has worked properly. Some people apparently do not take as well to the injection as others.

goatfarmer · Dec 27th, 2004, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnybardo

I'm wondering if anyone here has gone without any vaccinations?

Never got vaccinated specially for India.(Hep B booseter every 5 years regardless of India). Drank water from the tap. Wouldn't take malaria med unless trekking in a remote forest. Observe basic hygiene. Wash hands with soap before eating. Beware of partially cooked chicken or veggies.

Don't get paranoid about.....disease.....aaaaaaaa aagggggggggh! You can get sick anywhere. Despite all the filth and shit and spitting, you're unlikely to get very sick in India unless you are sloppy with hygiene or are very unlucky.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:02	#22
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	jaz Your hep A & B is not much overdue. I would advise you contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu when you arrive - they should be able to recommend someone to give you the booster. This is one of the few immunisations I keep up to date. __________________ What a long strange trip it's been!

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Dec 3rd, 2003, 04:20	#16
kira Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 47	When I visited India in 99 for four months, I was vaccinated against Typhoid, Polio and Hep A. A woman in my dorm in Kerala contracted Hep A, while a whole group of other women I met there got very sick with some other disease I can't quite remember the name of (possibly Malaria?) They had been traveling together in other parts of the country when they got sick. I remember seeing them walk around like zombies - soooo sick, they could barely function. The only illness I had while I was there was several bouts of the flu (high fever, sore throat, sinus problems, etc.) Took me a long time to get well each time. I am bringing a lot of vitamins/herbal supplements with me this time. I also got bit/scratched by a mangy cat. When I went to the hospital to get a rabies shot, the language barrier caused the nurse to let me go without giving me any shots at all. lol Ohhh - and how could I forget LICE?!!! I hugged my Indian friend goodbye the day I left India and her lice hopped from her head to mine. I didn't feel them until I was on the airplane coming home - it took months to get rid of them....and my poor mother who had to help me comb them out also got lice in the process. It was sheer torture! There is something about being in India that makes me paranoid about my health. Having met folks who became sick the last time I was there, I feel better about getting immunized this time around.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 09:14	#17
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	I was vaccinated against everything going from rabies to japanese E to all the ones already mentioned and then some. Only problem is my Hep A & Hep B, l had the injection in Dec 02 and just noticed l should have a booster after one year but theres no way l'm having that done in China after going to my local hospital and seeing peeps gobbing and pissing on the floors, they use the same needles and the doctors r grubby n don't know what the hell their doing! I will probably not do anything about it, do you think this is wise?? Cheers

Dec 3rd, 2003, 15:39	#18
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	mmmmh I'm not a doctor... But in my opinion, if you needed a booster after about one year and you haven't done (with a amiability of about 2 month) it, I think your whole protection against Hep A & B is gone. You have to do the total immunisation again. Which means for Hep A & B (for a approx. 10 year protection): one injection first, after one month the next and after one year the last. But maybe I'm wrong. If you don't have the time or the money to do the whole immunisation again (its not cheaper (in Germany)), I remember there is the possibility to get a singular immunisation (one injection), which is for about 3 month immunisation. Doing nothing is maybe the worst thing. Because Hep A is a disease you can get everywhere. Even if you eat an icecream in summer in England. Hope this helps a bit.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 15:58	#19
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	Cheers angelika The problem is l'm in China and here they don't know the difference between Hep A & HIV! Honestly the medical staff l have come across in China beggars belief. I did actually take 3 injections of both Hep A & B but is was done over a v short period not the standard injection. Is there a real risk if l do nothing? And if so, would it be possible to have it done in India/Nepal?

Dec 3rd, 2003, 16:40	#20
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	hui, China sounds scary... Once again, sorry I'm not a doctor. I don't know if you have the whole protection when you got immunisation in a very short period and not in the first-one month-one year-period. But if you like I can find it out (I'm working in a big company and we have your own medical department ---> I can ask they). I think it is possible to get the immunisation in India or Nepal (Kathmandu) . If you go to a hospital in a big town or maybe better you find an international red-cross-station. Generell I'm not a big fan of immunisation. I think it is impossible to be protect against everything. But there are some basic immunisations and Hep A & Hep B is definitely one of them.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:01	#21
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	Angelika Would appreciate that. I can't rely on any medical advise l get here. If it is pretty essential that l should have a booster l will have to check the possibilities in Nepal/India. Cheers

Dec 3rd, 2003, 17:47	#23
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	okay, I asked our doctorteam and they told me the following: for the last injection (the one you get after one year) you have a 2 and 1/2 year period of grace. That means you have enough time for the last booster. And the British Embassy in Kathmandu is a really good advice.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 18:02	#24
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	Angelika Thanks your a star, so it sounds like l'm safe then! Alan D Cheers. Just emailed the British Embassy in Nepal. Re Kathmandu, l will probably stay at Hotel Poon Hill, have you heard of it? 40%disc US$7.20 a night + free airport pick up.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 18:27	#25
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	jaz, I just looked at hotel Poon Hill's website. It looks a nice place and you certainly got a good price possibly because of the drop in tourism Nepal is experiencing. Keep in mind though that you are liable to be under a bit of pressure to use their services for trekking and onward travelling tickets etc as they are not making much money on the room rent. Just be firm and don't sign up for anything you don't really want. If you intend going trekking it's much cheaper to do it independently with the budget you are working on.

Dec 3rd, 2003, 19:22	#26
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	Poon hill hotel looks nice on the website. I stayed at the Royal Gorka Guesthouse in Thamel last February. It is also nice, really cheap (sorry can't remember). Simple rooms without bathroom but with balcony and a quite backyard. And a very friendly staff. Have a great time in India and Nepal. And please verify if it was correct what my doctors said.

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Dec 3rd, 2003, 21:30	#27
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	Alan D Yeah l know, l was abit wary at first but after a 14hr overnight hard seat train journey and then straight onto a flight l thought l'd treat myself 2 somewhere half decent! Only problem is the hard sell and they didn't waste anytime because they mentioned all this trekking, jungle safari, 30% disc etc etc in their reply to my email! And in this email l sent l specifically mentioned l wasn't interested in any trekking! Angelika Cheers. I'm already hooked on Nepal/India (thanks to Indiamike!) and l haven't even been yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

Dec 4th, 2003, 04:49	#28
mjball Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 129	Don't know if anyone has already written this cause I am in a hurry but the booster is not a guarantee that you are protected for life. You must have a blood test to see if it has worked properly. Some people apparently do not take as well to the injection as others.