Which vaccines do i need to travel to India?

kalbarri · Mar 5th, 2008, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

No, those viruses and other diseases only strike on day 13 and in cities not beginning with D, as any travel health site will tell you. US citizens are exempt anyway.

i got bitten by a malaria mosquito on day 13 in delhi!!! i came down with it when i got back to austrlia. fortunately it was not one of the real baddies and i was given pills that got rid of it on the 2nd fever.
i was told it has a 21 day incubation period.

Fusiggy · Mar 5th, 2008, 14:45

Hi, I'm from Australia, in Chennai for 6 months. Typhoid is a MUST and is available as an injection or as capsules (which must be taken as two doses and therefore you need a month before travelling). Next MUST is Hep B; and Hep A is highly recommended. If you are not already immunised against either then a combined vaccine is available. Tetanus is also recommended. Others like Cholera (the new vaccine recently out) and Japanese encephalitis are recommended if you plan to visit rural area or areas where the disease is endemic (only visiting cities, we did not take any of these). I am here with three kids and the only ones we took were TYPHOID, HEP B & HEP A and TETANUS. (Bearing in mind that with the vaccination program in Australia we are already immunised against other potential ills). Its not a vaccine but malaria prophylaxis would be recommended unless you are staying here longer than a few weeks. In Australia any doctor would be able to give you the vaccines - a TRAVELVAX centre would have the vaccines on site, with other doctors you would need to get a presciption, buy the vaccines from Chemist (Chemist Warehouse has good prices)and return to the doctor to have them administered.

Nick-H · Mar 5th, 2008, 17:11

Yellow Fever is not found in India. It is mandatory that you should have had the jab if you come from or have recently visited a country where it does exist. This is an immigration regulation, intended to protect India rather than the visitor.

Polio still exists in India, and those of us who had the jabs decades ago should get a booster. Another member explained about this recently.

machadinha · Mar 6th, 2008, 04:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusiggy

Next MUST is Hep B; and Hep A is highly recommended.

Er, wasn't that the other way around? Hepatitis B is the one that can only be transmitted through direct exchange of bodily fluids, right? While Hep A has a wider range of transmission (e.g., contaminated food and so on.)

Kingstonian · Mar 6th, 2008, 15:34

(Not relevant for OP perhaps - but maybe for others)

In the UK, in my experience, Hep B takes a while - no last minute options - 2 or 3 jabs, and one or even two blood tests to check antibody levels. Over a six-month period, I think. I had the Hep B vaccine about 12 years ago originally, routinely through work, when I was considered as moderately at risk of coming into direct contact with the virus. These days, it's a lot less routine. In January, I had a blood test then a booster before visiting India, for which I paid nothing too extravagant. Without the previous course, I wouldn't have been offered it. And you'd certainly have to pay for the full course (unless your company/private insurance cover you), if you can persuade your doctor it's justified by at least a moderate risk of direct exposure.

Hep A is a doddle - one jab only, on the NHS, no delay.

The Hep A cover doesn't last as long (a year?) as the Hep B can (years ... - uncertain, hence the blood tests).

My understanding (could easily be wrong here...) is that Hep A is a lot more treatable than Hep B ??? Is that right??

(VERY woolly over details here)

manali4now · Mar 6th, 2008, 22:14

Yes, Hep B is bodily fluids...But usually Hep A and B are a combined injection.

Called Twinrix I believe.

canadiantraveller · Mar 6th, 2008, 22:44

I am going to India for 3 weeks and my doctor recommended folowing vaccines. I am in Canada so the names of injections may be different.

Hepaptitis A&B (Twinrix - day 0, day 7 and day 21 and I have to take one after a year)
Typhoid - (Typhim -one inejection)
Tetanus- (One injection)
Cholera and diarrhea -Dukoral- I think I have to drink 4-6 weeks before travel. I have not taken it yet.

All covered under my medical insurance through work.

edwardseco · Mar 6th, 2008, 23:48

CT's setup sounds good to me. People say there is no need for Hep B but they ignore accidents, road, etc. and they miss intravenous fluids (after dysentary) and dare I say, they ignore getting "lucky". Had a friend that got B.

In the US Typhoid is a pill and it lasts longer. Wish I had your insurance though..

the opoponax · Mar 7th, 2008, 00:17

I'm gonna chime in with those who've advised you to just go to a doctor.

You are going to have to see a doctor to get any necessary vaccines, anyway, so you might as well just start there.

Be aware that this is not just anal-retentive westerner stuff -- I remember reading an article in a local paper somewhere in U.P. with the headline "First Polio Outbreak Of 2008 Strikes" or something like that, way in the back pages, below the fold. The sort of thing you'd see with 'polio' replaced by 'flu' or 'chicken pox' in the US. It's so common that it's not even really that newsworthy. Whereas where I'm from even a single case of polio would probably make front page news. My jaw dropped almost to my knees when a friend of mine casually mentioned missing 2 months of school due to contracting Typhoid as a teenager. There are MANY things you will hear in guidebooks and from other travelers (and even on this website!) that will be hyperbole, but vaccinations are not one of them.

Mar 5th, 2008, 17:11	#18
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Yellow Fever is not found in India. It is mandatory that you should have had the jab if you come from or have recently visited a country where it does exist. This is an immigration regulation, intended to protect India rather than the visitor. Polio still exists in India, and those of us who had the jabs decades ago should get a booster. Another member explained about this recently. __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

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Mar 5th, 2008, 14:45	#17
Fusiggy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chennai-until June Posts: 9	Hi, I'm from Australia, in Chennai for 6 months. Typhoid is a MUST and is available as an injection or as capsules (which must be taken as two doses and therefore you need a month before travelling). Next MUST is Hep B; and Hep A is highly recommended. If you are not already immunised against either then a combined vaccine is available. Tetanus is also recommended. Others like Cholera (the new vaccine recently out) and Japanese encephalitis are recommended if you plan to visit rural area or areas where the disease is endemic (only visiting cities, we did not take any of these). I am here with three kids and the only ones we took were TYPHOID, HEP B & HEP A and TETANUS. (Bearing in mind that with the vaccination program in Australia we are already immunised against other potential ills). Its not a vaccine but malaria prophylaxis would be recommended unless you are staying here longer than a few weeks. In Australia any doctor would be able to give you the vaccines - a TRAVELVAX centre would have the vaccines on site, with other doctors you would need to get a presciption, buy the vaccines from Chemist (Chemist Warehouse has good prices)and return to the doctor to have them administered.

Mar 6th, 2008, 15:34	#20
Kingstonian Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kingston on Thames, UK Posts: 253	(Not relevant for OP perhaps - but maybe for others) In the UK, in my experience, Hep B takes a while - no last minute options - 2 or 3 jabs, and one or even two blood tests to check antibody levels. Over a six-month period, I think. I had the Hep B vaccine about 12 years ago originally, routinely through work, when I was considered as moderately at risk of coming into direct contact with the virus. These days, it's a lot less routine. In January, I had a blood test then a booster before visiting India, for which I paid nothing too extravagant. Without the previous course, I wouldn't have been offered it. And you'd certainly have to pay for the full course (unless your company/private insurance cover you), if you can persuade your doctor it's justified by at least a moderate risk of direct exposure. Hep A is a doddle - one jab only, on the NHS, no delay. The Hep A cover doesn't last as long (a year?) as the Hep B can (years ... - uncertain, hence the blood tests). My understanding (could easily be wrong here...) is that Hep A is a lot more treatable than Hep B ??? Is that right?? (VERY woolly over details here)

Mar 6th, 2008, 22:14	#21
manali4now Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 51	Yes, Hep B is bodily fluids...But usually Hep A and B are a combined injection. Called Twinrix I believe.

Mar 6th, 2008, 22:44	#22
canadiantraveller Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 25	I am going to India for 3 weeks and my doctor recommended folowing vaccines. I am in Canada so the names of injections may be different. Hepaptitis A&B (Twinrix - day 0, day 7 and day 21 and I have to take one after a year) Typhoid - (Typhim -one inejection) Tetanus- (One injection) Cholera and diarrhea -Dukoral- I think I have to drink 4-6 weeks before travel. I have not taken it yet. All covered under my medical insurance through work.

Mar 6th, 2008, 23:48	#23
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,424	CT's setup sounds good to me. People say there is no need for Hep B but they ignore accidents, road, etc. and they miss intravenous fluids (after dysentary) and dare I say, they ignore getting "lucky". Had a friend that got B. In the US Typhoid is a pill and it lasts longer. Wish I had your insurance though..

Mar 7th, 2008, 00:17	#24
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	I'm gonna chime in with those who've advised you to just go to a doctor. You are going to have to see a doctor to get any necessary vaccines, anyway, so you might as well just start there. Be aware that this is not just anal-retentive westerner stuff -- I remember reading an article in a local paper somewhere in U.P. with the headline "First Polio Outbreak Of 2008 Strikes" or something like that, way in the back pages, below the fold. The sort of thing you'd see with 'polio' replaced by 'flu' or 'chicken pox' in the US. It's so common that it's not even really that newsworthy. Whereas where I'm from even a single case of polio would probably make front page news. My jaw dropped almost to my knees when a friend of mine casually mentioned missing 2 months of school due to contracting Typhoid as a teenager. There are MANY things you will hear in guidebooks and from other travelers (and even on this website!) that will be hyperbole, but vaccinations are not one of them.

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