Vaccinations, etc.

c5sandy · June 2014

My husband and I are going on the Kenya/Tanzania July 26th, 2014. We have been to
South Africa. We have had the Yellow Fever and intend to take malaria prophylaxes.
The CDC also recommends Hepatitis A & B, anyone know if this is actually necessary?

[Deleted User] · June 2014

Hep A is always a good idea. It can spread through many forms of contact. Hep B requires an exchange of fluids.

As you mentioned, the CDC site recommends Hep A (and Typhoid). We've done both (we're doing this trip in January) . Not a big deal and better safe than sorry. For others:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kenya for Kenya, http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania for Tanzania.

Sealord · June 2014

Portolan wrote:

Hep A is always a good idea. It can spread through many forms of contact. Hep B requires an exchange of fluids.

As you mentioned, the CDC site recommends Hep A (and Typhoid). We've done both (we're doing this trip in January) . Not a big deal and better safe than sorry. For others:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kenya for Kenya, http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania for Tanzania.

Yup. Our health professional recommended all of the above, and we did the works, including hep B.

British · June 2014

Yes, agree with others, best to get Hep A and B. Hep B could be encountered if you end up in hospital and it is much easier to catch than say, HIV if a hospital worker has it and an exchange of fluids occurs, like them having a cut and going near your wound, the hep B is a much more virulent bug. Some would say it is not necessary unless you plan on having 'fun" with a local.
B is a series of 3 injections, I can't recall the gaps in between but I think you have left it too late before your trip to get maybe more than 2 of the three.
I am still not sure why people ask complete strangers on the forum about advice they should be getting from their travel specialist but hope our comments help you make some good decisions. This is a great trip

c5sandy · June 2014

Thanks for your input. When we traveled to South Africa a couple of years ago, both our travel professional and Tauck, referred us to the CDC; however, we have found that the information from seasoned travelers is often more informative than that which is provided by "travel professionals" and Tauck. We have contacted our local Scripps Foreign travel clinic and will follow their advice. Thanks again, looking forward to our trip.

jdurkin · June 2014

British wrote:

I am still not sure why people ask complete strangers on the forum about advice they should be getting from their travel specialist but hope our comments help you make some good decisions. This is a great trip

I was wondering why some people here seem to dismiss the advice of the CDC. Being merely an ignorant, illiterate colonial serf and a female to boot … how many other self-decprecting labels can I fling around … I needed to look up CDC. Now that I know what they are and what they do, I'm still wondering why people seem to dismiss their advice. Is it a political thing? (In which case, I rescind my question.) Or is it a question of uneven research findings, or similar?

I don't know anything about public health policy. As a consumer, I'm curious.

British · June 2014

I have discovered over time that it is not the easiest site to use, I much prefer the UK equivalent, it's much more up to date and the World Health Organization likewise. I do have long nursing background and a scientist husband to help me make personal decisions about our own health. I have friends in England who regularly dispense travel meds and advise. They actually are more current on giving out different malaria meds after more recent cautions on some of the drugs that the CDC do not mention.
On another note but maybe of interest to you Jan, with all the concerns about security in Kenya this week, I came across the UK.GOV website for travel alerts. You can sign up for any country, so I ticked ( for Americans, checked) all the countries I may hope to travel to in the future. So far I found out about a strike in Italy, something in Sweden I di not bother to open up. The Kenya section gives a really good breakdown of where is safe/unsafe, much better in my opinion than the US equivalent, I guess the Uk has A lot more correspondents out in the world than the USA thanks to the good old BBC. Of course I am not going to Kenya this trip, but it's near enough Tanzania to want to know what is going on.

jdurkin · June 2014

Thanks, British. Verrrry interesting, to quote an across-the-pond reference.

I take all the DEFAT travel advisories and we both understand the ancestral lines/s there. But our public health policy (until recently) has mirrored familiar paths. The scripts are etched in my brain! I always register with DFAT … on one hand I have to wonder and on the other … why would you risk that the other chaps didn't know where you were. What! On a good day, natch. I have often pondered on the point … travellers are, after all, curious creatures… which is why we … er, moving on. Thanks for your input. As you were ….

Cheers,

Jan

Leo M · June 2014

Jan...I'm not nearly as scientifically oriented as British. I believe people question any institution which recommends inoculations for the following reasons:

1. They are as frightened of shots as I am of heights;

2. In the U.S., inoculations are really expensive. Beth and I spent over $1,000 for our shots (but I must say that included the very costly anti-shingles injections);

3. Some people are pseudo-risk takers but like to know what the odds are before braving the final leap. Have you ever noticed how many people on the Forum actually get the inoculations after being reminded of the potentially dire consequences? They've never seen yellow fever or malaria or bilharzia. If you tell them, "Why risk it?"...they really don't know what you're talking about.

I just think people are people whether in the U.K. or Australia or the U.S. Why undergo the shot or the expense if there is an easier way. Unfortunately, the risks are very real and life threatening....Leo M

jdurkin · June 2014

Shingles! Urgh ….. That is nasty and you don't even have to leave home to get that. Note to self. Check with medico. Another thing to add to the list for my pre-travel visit. You know, I will never forget the fairly common sight of kids in leg braces as a consequence of polio. (And they were the lucky ones!) I had so many polio shots as a child I became fairly accustomed to jabs. Doesn't mean I actually like them. And to hear the sound of a tiny baby struggling to breathe because they have whooping cough…. There are parts of Victoria where the disease is very severe … all because the chain of immunity has been broken by adults who want to risk it. I bet those tiny babies would be taking precautions themselves if they didn't have to rely on adults.

British · June 2014

Leo, I got my Shingles shot at my pharmacy for a regular copayment as soon as it became available for people over 55. The disadvantage of Travel clinics is they really overcharge for all their shots. We learned that early on when we began traveling to more exotic locations. These days we speak to our family Dr and he prescribes and we get the injection or drug for a regular drug copay. Admittedly, you do have to know what you need. For our Malaria meds we told him what and how many we needed for our trip to Tanzania

Vaccinations, etc.

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