Vaccine Pattaya

[JJomtien]

I live in Pattaya and I'm in need of a pneumonia booster shot (had the initial shot in the US 1 year ago). I received the following quote from Pattaya International Hospital:

 

Pneumococcal vaccine – 4,500 THB

Doctor fee and hospital service charge up to 1,200 THB

 

This  seems sky high to me, especially the doctor fee as I expect a nurse will simply stick a needle into me--total time about 1 minute.

 

Does anyone know where I can get low cost, clean, safe vaccinations in or near Pattaya? Thanks.

[Swiss1960]

Try Bangkok Pattaya Hospital opposite BigC on Sukhumvit / Pattaya South. I use this clinic for many small things and they seem not to be too expensive

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[Sheryl]

Important:  what you  need  is  not a "booster"!

 

There are 2 types of pneumoccocal vaccine :

 

1. Pnemococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13)

 

2. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 or Pnemovax 23; in Thailand it is Pneumovax23).

 

The second one includes protection against 10 types of bacteria not included in the first.

 

For adults (everyone 65 and above; younger if certain medical conditions or risk factors are present) the schedule is to get the P13 first and then P23 one year or more later.

 

So assuming what you had a year ago was P13 you now need P23. A repeat P13 vaccine will not have any benefit (and might be what the PIH quote referred to).

 

It can be hard to find places in Thailand with the Pneumovax23 vaccine and you need to clearly specify that this is what you need.

 

These are expensive vaccines,  still under patent. That said, the quote from PIH is excessive both for drug cost and the hospital fee.

 

You can get it for about 1,400 baht in Bangkok here  https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations

and probably about the same or a little less here http://www.saovabha.com/en/clinictravel.asp?nTopic=4

 

In Pattaya itself you could try Pattaya City Hospital, no guarantee they have it, be sure to specify Pneuomax 23 not P13.  http://www.pattayacityhospital.go.th/en/services

 

The Red Cross Hospital in Sri Racha  likely to have it but again, no guarantee and you have to make sure  they understand you mean P23 not P13,  http://www.somdej.or.th/

It is a government hospital so crowded and long waits and likely impossible to ascertain they have what you need without going there in person.

 

There is no rush on this. The protocol is to give P23 at least a year  later, i.e. a year or more, even 2 years later is OK. So if you have any plans for going into Bangkok anytime in the coming year could wait and do it then at clinic listed above (but call first to be sure they have it-- I was there about 2 months ago and they had run out)

 

Or, if you will be back in the US within a year, wait and do it there.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/hcp/recommendations.html

[JJomtien]

Hi Sheryl. Thanks for your detailed reply. I checked my records. They state that I received PCV23 a year ago. I suppose this is the same as the PPSV23 that you mention. According to what I read on the internet, one shot is usually sufficient, but some folks believe two shots provide more protection, apparently my former provider among them.

 

Swiss1960, I take it you are *not* referring to the main Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but to a smaller clinic south of there. I can't find it on Google Maps. Could you provide a Google Maps link?

 

Thanks to both of you.

 

[Sheryl]

Hi Sheryl. Thanks for your detailed reply. I checked my records. They state that I received PCV23 a year ago. I suppose this is the same as the PPSV23 that you mention. According to what I read on the internet, one shot is usually sufficient, but some folks believe two shots provide more protection, apparently my former provider among them.

 

Swiss1960, I take it you are *not* referring to the main Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but to a smaller clinic south of there. I can't find it on Google Maps. Could you provide a Google Maps link?

 

Thanks to both of you.

 

Nobody recommends a P23 booster after one year and it should not be done. A one time booster after 5 years is recommended if and only if P23 was given before the age of 65.

 

While P23 is routinely given to adults only over age 65 (and one year after getting P13), in people with specific risk factors (asthmatics, diabetics, smokers erc) P23 may be given prior to age 65 in which case P13 should be given after turning 65...so it may be P13 that you need, if the P23 was given before age 65 fue to risk factors.

 

I suggest you contact your provider if podsible to get clarity on which vaccine you are supposed to get now before proceeding further. A written reply from them may also help in dealings with whatever clinic you end up going to

 

 

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[Swiss1960]

Hi Sheryl. Thanks for your detailed reply. I checked my records. They state that I received PCV23 a year ago. I suppose this is the same as the PPSV23 that you mention. According to what I read on the internet, one shot is usually sufficient, but some folks believe two shots provide more protection, apparently my former provider among them.
 
Swiss1960, I take it you are *not* referring to the main Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but to a smaller clinic south of there. I can't find it on Google Maps. Could you provide a Google Maps link?
 
Thanks to both of you.
 

The Clinic does not have a Google map entry that I can find. But search for Chic Republic Pattaya, the clinic is just next door.

However, reading Sheryl's comments, I have to assume that your needs are above this clinics knowledge (as I said before, smaller things and junior docs)

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[JJomtien]

Yes, Sheryl, it appears I need more clarity on my particular situation. Thanks again for your detailed replies.