Vaccines

The types of vaccines you need depends on:

• Which countries you're visiting

• Where in that particular country you`re traveling

• When you're traveling

• How primitive you`re going to live in Asia

• How long it has been since you took your last shot...

• Your medical history

Now, before you take those shots, ask yourself these questions:

Which countries am I going to visit and where in the country am I heading? And when?

I suggest you write down all the places you intend to visit (even though your itinerary is not ready)

Do I want to spend most of my time in the cities/rural areas, or both?

How long do I want to spend my time in rural areas?

What kind of living conditions am I likely to have? (guest house, budget bungalow, tent etc.)

Am I going to trek? For how long?

Do I have any allergies or diseases I should mention to my doctor? Pregnant?

Do I have any plans on working during the trip? (like volunteer jobs etc)

Am I already on medication now? (in case you are, tell your doctor about this)

When should I take my vaccinations?

I`m not a doctor, so have that in mind when you`re reading...

This article is strictly based on what I`ve experienced, heavy research and other backpackers` comments.

You should calculate enough time:

At least 4-8 weeks before departure, but this depends on what type of shots you`ve already taken.

If you want to save time, it`s possible to take all the vaccinations in one day.

You should take vaccinations as early as possible because:

First, it may take some time to book an appointment at your local travel clinic, or doctor. But if you want to go to a doctor, and not a travel clinic, make sure the doctor specializes in travel medicine.

The effects of some vaccinations should work effectively before you go, and not after.

Let`s say you take your shots one week before departure. This means that the effects will usually appear on your 3rd in Asia. That`s a long time.. Who knows what diseases you might have gotten during those weeks...

Even if you don`t manage to take your shots within 4-8 weeks, do it anyway! It`s better to take vaccinations, than none at all....

If you hate needles...

...and if you don`t want to take all the shots in one day, you have to allow some time between the vaccinations.

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What should the doctor/nurse inform me about?

What vaccines you need

Have in mind that some clinics will try to sell you the whole vaccination package. You are not obligated to buy that package....!

I suggest that you research on the various vaccinations and talk to friends who have gone backpacking before. Ask them what they took.

Some will likely feel that they`ve wasted money on some vaccinations, like Japanese B, or even rabies. But it`s up to you what you decide. There are no obvious answers...So research and feel it out..

How much the shots cost

The side effects of vaccines

How long the vaccines will last

After you`ve been vaccinated, you`ll usually receive a vaccination card/passport. This card will tell which vaccinations you have taken, the dates you took them, how much dose you were given and the place of vaccination. And don`t forget the stamp!

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What vaccinations should I take?

The vaccines mentioned below are specifically for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and India.

Check if you need to update your routine shots. Routine vaccines are the ones you took when you were a child:

Polio (should take it every 10 years)

Tetanus (should take it every 10 years)

Tetanus is caused by a germ that enters the body, either in a wound or a cut.

So, tetanus vaccine is a useful vaccine in case of accidents -- like motorcycle- and moped accidents, climbing accidents or even when you snorkel and cut yourself on corals or sea urchins.

Diphteria (should take it every 10 years)

Tuberculosis (BCG vaccine)

If you`ve taken the BCG vaccine (probably at school), it`s likely you have a round scar on your left or right upper arm. But if you want to be on the safe side, ask your doctor!

Here are the usual travel vaccines you should take:

Typhoid

Hepatitis A

Hep A comes from infected food and water, and infected blood. The water in Asia is likely contaminated by sewage (like in India). And infected food might come from chefs with bad hand hygiene. So, watch out what you eat and drink.

Read my tips on backpacking health (food, water and hygiene).

And you can get Hep A from dirty needles, if that needle has been used by another person (before you). Like, in cases where you want to donate blood to the local community.

Hepatitis B

You can get Hep B if you have unprotected sex (body fluids) or blood transmissions. So, to prevent Hep B, it`s obvious that you should use condoms. And you might need a blood transmission, if you get involved in a dangerous accident.

Cholera

Cholera is usually transmitted via (tap) water, and causes stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. You`ll eventually get diarrhoea resembling rice water - thin and flaky.

An option is to drink the cholera vaccine (some has a berry flavour).. Yum! The brand I used was Dukoral.

You can also take vaccinations for:

Japanese B encephalitis

Japanese B encephalitis is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. And this type of mosquito lives around rice paddies and pigs. So, if you`re planning on staying a long time in rural areas, you should take it.

The incubation period (Japanese B) is between 5-15 days. And the symptoms are fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Rabies

You might need a rabies shot if you`re planning to stay in rural areas in India. Many of the stray dogs in India and Thailand carry rabies.

If you don`t want to take the vaccine, the best way is to avoid getting bitten by dogs and other animals, like monkeys and bats.

If you get bitten or scratched by an animal in Asia, you should clean it thoroughly. Then go to the nearest doctor so you can get a treatment.

Yellow Fever

If you`re coming from Africa/South America and traveling straight to, for instance Thailand, they want to reassure that you`ve taken the Yellow Fever vaccine.. So, that means you have to show them the certificate for this.

If you`re traveling to Thailand from South America or Africa, check out the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.

Here you`ll find a list of countries declared yellow fever areas.

To read more about the mentioned vaccinations, visit these links:

Vaccines for Thailand

...For Laos

...For Cambodia

...For India

...For Malaysia

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What about Malaria and Dengue Fever?

Which tablets you should take depends on which areas you`re going to, your age, medical history etc.

And some brands have strong side-effects. So ask your doctor which tablets you should take. You`ll also need a prescription for antimalarial drugs.

I took Lariam (Mefloquine) when I travelled around in Asia. It`s commonly known that Lariam tablets can cause sleeping disorders, headache, dizziness, nausea, anxiety and paranioa.

To be honest, the side-effects were bothering my sleep so I stopped taking them when I was in Thailand. There were some nights I couldn`t sleep and other nights I got vivid nightmares..

To read more about malaria, you can visit CDC`s site.

Where do you want to go next?

Back to Travel Health?

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