Re: Vaccinations

[davhend25]

I'm an American currently residing in a small town in Chanthaburi Province in Eastern Thailand. 

 

I will soon be due my one year booster vaccine for hep A & B (TwinRix).  I would also like to get my annual influenza vaccine at the same time. Where in my area, would be the safest place to get these vaccines. Not concerned about cost, just quality and safety. Can travel to Bangkok if necessary, but would prefer somewhere closer.

 

Thank you in advance for your replies to my question.

 

DH

Na Yai Am, Chanthaburi

 

 

 

[doggie1955]

Bangkok Hospital is a good place...https://www.tmb.ie/destinations/vaccinations-for-thailand

 

Edited October 13, 2017 by doggie1955

[dtrain5000]

BKK hospital in A. Mueang near the bus station in Chanthaburi.


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[geriatrickid]

For those considering the vaccine, I suggest you not bother with the dual vaccine. If you need them both, then take them separately. The only reason they are packaged together is to allow the marketing of a product at an inflated price. the vaccines are available separately at a much lower cost.  However, since the OP started with Twinrix, he should  finish his dosing to ensure consistency of the injectable.

 

Unless  the physician has told you that you need a booster, you may not need one. That's because the vaccines (when working) last for decades and don't require boosters.  Have you ever checked your antibody levels to determine if the vaccines worked?  The vaccines don't work in 5-15% of people depending upon underlying conditions, so you may be poking yourself for nothing. What I do from time to time because of my work is to check my antibody levels to determine if I need a dose. So far so good as my last dosing for Hep B was 10 years ago.

 

If I copy from my manual;

For Hepatitis A: The recommended schedule consists of 2 doses, with the second dose administered 6–18 months after the first. The booster recommendations state that there is no evidence to support the need for a booster dose of Hepatitis A vaccine in healthy (i.e., immunocompetent) individuals who have received the complete primary course of vaccination

 

For Hepatis B: The recommended schedule consists of 3 doses,  with doses administered at 0, 1, and 6 months. there is no need for the administration of a Hepatitis B booster dose in immunocompetent individuals who have responded to a full standard primary course (i.e. checked for the antibodies.)

 

I appreciate that the manufacturer of Twinrix says 4 doses, but that is for the quick fix schedule, and that schedule isn't supported by the health literature. The recommended practice is to check your antibodies before dosing again. All vaccinations  can have an adverse  reaction, so the fewer you take, the less likely of a complication.

 

As an aside, when taking a vaccine in Thailand, ask for the box and product monograph. It is your legal right. Read the product monograph. If you see misspellings or printing errors, contact the manufacturer. An error in the monograph is an indication of a counterfeit vaccine. Hospitals do not necessarily verify the entire inventory and it is possible for a dishonest purchasing agent or supplier to swap out legit products. Verify the box  which will show the expiry date. If in doubt, you can contact the manufacturer toll free  or by email to verify if the lot number and tracking code is legit.

I was given a sensitive product from a reputable pharmacy. It had expired 6 months earlier. I only checked after using it. Fortunately, it didn't matter, but I reamed the pharmacist for not verifying as is the obligation. We were both sloppy. vaccines are  time sensitive.

 

Where to source: from a large hospital or a WHO or government  approved vaccine supply facility. The vaccine is temperature sensitive and must be stored  between 2 and 8 C. The aforementioned facilities have proper storage facilities and monitoring. If the  vaccine is not stored correctly it is deactivated or degraded. Check with Sirivej Hospital or Bangkok Hospital.

 

Trust this helps you and others.

 

[al007]

Most vaccinations can be done at your local hospital or clinic

 

My son and his children had several done including hepatitis at our local clinic, and later the boosters as well, only cost a few bhatt, at a fraction of the cost in the UK, and also at a fraction of the big name hospital costs

 

I note the point on the care of the vacines but I think I trust the health system here to be ok

[davhend25]

On 10/13/2017 at 10:07 AM, dtrain5000 said:

BKK hospital in A. Mueang near the bus station in Chanthaburi.


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I contacted them first as they are closest to my home geographically. They do not have the combo vaccine (Twinrix). They said to try some hospitals in Bangkok. The Thai Travel Clinic in Bangkok has this vaccine and I have scheduled an appointment with them. Thank you, and all the other folks, for your kind response to my question.