Already had influenza shot in Hong Kong, get another in Thailand?

[david_je]

Last October I had the northern strain vaccine in HK. Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain? And where in Bangkok might we be able to get it free?

[Upnotover]

Free? Are these things otherwise expensive? 

[ChaiyaTH]

Maybe you can get another AstraZeneca shot, they were so good they are now not given to anyone in the west anymore lol. Hope you are aware that general influenza vaccines are known to be ineffective since like the 70-80s. Why they still give them? It doesn't hurt and makes them money like a placebo.

Edited May 11 by ChaiyaTH

[Tropicalevo]

Unless you have a social security number, I doubt that it would be free.

A local clinic would be your cheapest option.

I recently had one but that was with my annual health check at the hospital. The vaccine was a 'special' price 699 baht

[connda]

Absolutely.  And get your Covid boosters as well.  Safe and Effective.  Mask up.  Stay 2 meters away from other human beings. Stay safe.  It's a dangerous world out there.

[johng]

4 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Maybe you can get another AstraZeneca shot

I think they have withdrawn AZ  and Johnson maybe because they where too effective !

[johng]

41 minutes ago, connda said:

It's a dangerous world out there.

Don't  forgot the bubble wrap and cotton wool.

[Lorry]

12 hours ago, david_je said:

Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain?

No, you shouldn't. 

Not because of the cra.p the other poster wrote.

But because the northern "strain" and the southern "strain" are not 2 differen strains.

The vaccination of the northern hemisphere is "the “northern hemisphere” formulation, which reflects the strains of virus expected to be in circulation – globally – during the northern winter." It's a mixture of various strains,  the "southern hemisphere" vaccine is usually a slightly - not completely - different mixture

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007136/

[Sheryl]

Northern and southern strains are not identical. More importantly, a vaccine given in October will not give optimal protection in the peak influenza sesson in Thailand, which is July - October.

 

I would recommend getting vaccinated again in Bangkok within the next couple of weeks or so. 

 

You cannot  get it for free.

 

500 baht currently at Medconsult Asia. No add on charges, no need to see doctor first. https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations/

 

349 at the Mahidol Thai travel clinic but there us  a doctor consultation fee on top of that so works out about the same as Medconsult.

 

However if you are over 65  or immune compromised, high dose vaccine is recommended and last I checked available only at the Thai Travel clinic and some private hospitals. Cost about 1500 at the latter. 

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

 

 

 

 

[zhounan]

Do what you want and don't push the others to do what you want.

[still kicking]

What about living down under do I need one travelling to Thailand often since I get mine in OZ.

[david_je]

11 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Northern and southern strains are not identical. More importantly, a vaccine given in October will not give optimal protection in the peak influenza sesson in Thailand, which is July - October.

 

I would recommend getting vaccinated again in Bangkok within the next couple of weeks or so. 

 

You cannot  get it for free.

 

500 baht currently at Medconsult Asia. No add on charges, no need to see doctor first. https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations/

 

349 at the Mahidol Thai travel clinic but there us  a doctor consultation fee on top of that so works out about the same as Medconsult.

 

However if you are over 65  or immune compromised, high dose vaccine is recommended and last I checked available only at the Thai Travel clinic and some private hospitals. Cost about 1500 at the latter. 

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

 

 

 

 

Very helpful, thank you.

[david_je]

On 5/12/2024 at 1:25 AM, Sheryl said:

Northern and southern strains are not identical. More importantly, a vaccine given in October will not give optimal protection in the peak influenza sesson in Thailand, which is July - October.

 

I would recommend getting vaccinated again in Bangkok within the next couple of weeks or so. 

 

You cannot  get it for free.

 

500 baht currently at Medconsult Asia. No add on charges, no need to see doctor first. https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations/

 

349 at the Mahidol Thai travel clinic but there us  a doctor consultation fee on top of that so works out about the same as Medconsult.

 

However if you are over 65  or immune compromised, high dose vaccine is recommended and last I checked available only at the Thai Travel clinic and some private hospitals. Cost about 1500 at the latter. 

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

 

 

 

 

Sheryl, do you know name of the high dose given in Bangkok?

[Sheryl]

14 minutes ago, david_je said:

Sheryl, do you know name of the high dose given in Bangkok?

"High Dose Influenza Vaccine"

[newbee2022]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:42 AM, david_je said:

Last October I had the northern strain vaccine in HK. Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain? And where in Bangkok might we be able to get it free?

What is more important? Protection or a freebie?😵‍💫

[Srikcir]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:42 AM, david_je said:

Last October I had the northern strain vaccine in HK. Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain? And where in Bangkok might we be able to get it free?

There are four major variants or strains of flu, of which more than one can be given in the same injection. In Thailand three variants H1N1, H3N2 and B viruses are most widespread and you can get with a trivalent flu shot or marginally increase your protection with a quadvalent injection. Obviously, more expensive than a single variant shot. 

[Brock]

Quote

What about living down under do I need one travelling to Thailand often since I get mine in OZ

Now is the time to get yours in Oz for the upcoming winter, just had mine. 

Do you need it if visiting Thailand?? Probably not, but its a good idea to keep your protection up. Does it work, isit effective??  Dont know for certain, but I havent had the flu for many years..

[david_je]

On 5/12/2024 at 1:25 AM, Sheryl said:

Northern and southern strains are not identical. More importantly, a vaccine given in October will not give optimal protection in the peak influenza sesson in Thailand, which is July - October.

 

I would recommend getting vaccinated again in Bangkok within the next couple of weeks or so. 

 

You cannot  get it for free.

 

500 baht currently at Medconsult Asia. No add on charges, no need to see doctor first. https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations/

 

349 at the Mahidol Thai travel clinic but there us  a doctor consultation fee on top of that so works out about the same as Medconsult.

 

However if you are over 65  or immune compromised, high dose vaccine is recommended and last I checked available only at the Thai Travel clinic and some private hospitals. Cost about 1500 at the latter. 

 

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html

 

 

 

 

Just found out also available at Chula Hospital, about 1500 not incl doc fee.

[Lacessit]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:42 AM, david_je said:

Last October I had the northern strain vaccine in HK. Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain? And where in Bangkok might we be able to get it free?

"Southern strain" is used in places such as Australia, South America etc. Thailand is still north of the Equator, the northern strain vaccine would be used in Bangkok.

Just have another flu shot next October.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

"Southern strain" is used in places such as Australia, South America etc. Thailand is still north of the Equator, the northern strain vaccine would be used in Bangkok.

Just have another flu shot next October.

Southern strain is recommended for Thailand and the rest of tropical/subtropical SE and south Asia.

 

  And, as  the flu season in monsoonal Asia is the rainy season May - November, with peak incidence in July - October, flu shots here are best given in May.

 

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/emergency-preparedness/global-influenza-programme/recommendedvaccineformulationv2.pdf?sfvrsn=eaf3b86b_4

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Southern strain is recommended for Thailand and the rest of tropical/subtropical SE and south Asia.

 

  And, as  the flu season in monsoonal Asia is the rainy season May - November, with peak incidence in July - October, flu shots here are best given in May.

 

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/emergency-preparedness/global-influenza-programme/recommendedvaccineformulationv2.pdf?sfvrsn=eaf3b86b_4

My wrong assumption, which is why you are so valuable to this community.

I had a flu shot in April in Australia, so I am set for this year.

My apologies for incorrect information.

[PPMMUU]

Thailand is in a tropical area, which isn't exactly in the northern or southern hemisphere. As a result, we have both northern and southern versions of the flu shot available. The ones currently available are the southern strain versions, which may overlap with the northern strain versions from last year. However, the flu strains in Thailand bear more resemblance to those in the southern hemisphere than the northern. Therefore, if you're getting the flu shot for the first time, I suggest opting for the southern strain.

If you plan to stay in Thailand indefinitely, or at least for several years, I recommend transitioning to the southern strain. This means getting the southern strain flu shot as soon as possible this year and repeating it next year. However, if you move frequently or spend most of your time in northern countries, I suggest waiting for the northern flu shot later this year.

[Boedog]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:42 AM, david_je said:

Last October I had the northern strain vaccine in HK. Should I now get the vaccine in Thailand, which I assume would be southern strain? And where in Bangkok might we be able to get it free?

sure of course you should  get another covid jab why your there, can never be to safe

[david_je]

On 5/12/2024 at 1:25 AM, Sheryl said:

Northern and southern strains are not identical. More importantly, a vaccine given in October will not give optimal protection in the peak influenza sesson in Thailand, which is July - October.

 

I would recommend getting vaccinated again in Bangkok within the next couple of weeks or so. 

 

High dose also at Chula Hosp and Saovabha Institute at Thai Red Cross, both about 1,500b though Chula will add doctor's fee. However, at Saovabha last week, doctor said that since I got the northern strain vaccine last October, I did not need the southern strain vaccine for now because three of the four strains are the same. She said I could get now if I really wanted to, but suggested waiting till October. Does this sound reasonable?

[Sheryl]

6 hours ago, david_je said:

High dose also at Chula Hosp and Saovabha Institute at Thai Red Cross, both about 1,500b though Chula will add doctor's fee. However, at Saovabha last week, doctor said that since I got the northern strain vaccine last October, I did not need the southern strain vaccine for now because three of the four strains are the same. She said I could get now if I really wanted to, but suggested waiting till October. Does this sound reasonable?

Doesn't make too much sense to me to get Southrrn strain vaccine in October, flu season here is almost over at that point. 

[PPMMUU]

I think they mean wait for the northern strain.

[Lorry]

8 hours ago, david_je said:

High dose also at Chula Hosp and Saovabha Institute at Thai Red Cross, both about 1,500b though Chula will add doctor's fee. However, at Saovabha last week, doctor said that since I got the northern strain vaccine last October, I did not need the southern strain vaccine for now because three of the four strains are the same. She said I could get now if I really wanted to, but suggested waiting till October. Does this sound reasonable?

If she meant to wait until October and then get the northern strain (as PPMMUU suggested) that's what I am doing (I am in a similar situation)

[rattlesnake]

On 5/11/2024 at 12:07 PM, johng said:

I think they have withdrawn AZ  and Johnson maybe because they where too effective !

You're a conspiracy theorist, misinformation spreader until… actually, you were right but let's move on!



https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/astrazeneca-vaccine-withdrawn-after-fatal-blood-clot-revelation/news-story/b94023cfa237c74b26fc329855c6b51a

[david_je]

10 hours ago, Lorry said:

If she meant to wait until October and then get the northern strain (as PPMMUU suggested) that's what I am doing (I am in a similar situation)

Yes, that's probably what she meant. I neglected to clarify. Thanks.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, david_je said:

Yes, that's probably what she meant. I neglected to clarify. Thanks.

 

Are you plannng to travel?

 

As still not making much sense to get flu vaccine in Thailand in October. If on the other hand will travel elsewhere where the flu season differs, then makes sense.