Need Help From Canadians About Shots Before Coming To Thailand.

[Jelopi]

I'm coming from Canada and looking for someone who has gone through the process of getting all their shots and meds before moving to Thailand.

This travel site says that these are all needed:

Link

How much would all of these shots generally cost? Are they covered by my health card in Canada?

How long does it take to get all of them? And how long after getting them till I can move to Thailand?

[Sheryl]

First of all, you have almost certainly already received some of these vaccines, so you need to check your prior vaccination history to see which of them you still need.

Secondly, note that Thailand is not an endemic area for yellow fever so scratch that one off the list.

Thirdly, typhoid is very rare in Thailand and the vaccine not very effective so most people skip that (I would).

Regarding your last question, you can move to Thailand anytime you want, none of these are legal requirements. Some people get all needed vaccinations after arrival in Thailand, some choose to get full series before coming (will take six months) and others start the series back home and then get the remainder once in Thailand. Up to you.

Combined Hepatitis A + B vaccine is 3 doses over a 6 month period. If you are already immunized for Hep A, then the Hep b series alone is likewise 3 doses over a 6 month period. 2nd dose is 1 month after the first and then 3rd one is 6 months after the first.

Rabies pre-exposure vaccine is 3 doses over 3-4 weeks: 1 dose, 2nd dose 7 days later then dose #3 21-28 days after dose #1.

Japanese B encephalitis vaccine is 2 doses 28 days apart

DT booster, if nee3ded, is just 1 shot.

The Hepatitits and rabies vaccines are important for anyone coming to Thailand, The Japanese B may not be necessary if you will be only in urban areas and beach resorts but is advisable if you will be in rural areas.

So as you can see, within one month you can get everything except for the final Hepatitis booster, which has to wait another 5 months but can also be done here in Thailand.

As to whether Canadian NHS covers these, I have no idea.

[bkkjames]

Sheryl, have you ever met anyone in your life that has had a rabies shot before coming to Thailand?

[smokie36]

Sheryl, have you ever met anyone in your life that has had a rabies shot before coming to Thailand?

I was thinking the same thing. If bitten then get to a doctor is the usual advice isn't it?

I'd make sure Tetanus and the Hepatitis shots are up to date....and make sure you use mosquito repellent. The rest seems a bit OTT for a beach and city holiday.

Just my opinion.

Edited August 14, 2012 by smokie36

[Sheryl]

Sheryl, have you ever met anyone in your life that has had a rabies shot before coming to Thailand?

Of course. many. Myself included.

Anyone who follows CDC or similiar guidance will have.

While one does still need to see a doctor after a bite, the treatment required post exposure is less in cost, duration and pain than if not previously immunized.

And should it for any reason be hard to get medical care right away, your risk is much less than that of a never immunized person.

Given that the disease is 100% fatal, rabies fairly prevalent and many stray dogs around, I can't see why anyone would not want to get it.

[cooked]

Same thing for tetanus, another nasty. I get immunised regularly due to my (previous) job but on the odd occasion where I went in for stitches they always gave me a booster. You'll feel better if you get immunised.

As for the information given by Sheryl, I am sure that it correct but coming from Switzerland I got a different series of shots, I onlg got one shot for rabies, and I should repeat my hepatitis shot 6 months after the first one (Havrix).

No insult intended, but these questions are typical of people that come from countries with state based health systems, in the end everybody has to set his own priorities.

[TommoPhysicist]

I wouldn't bother with any shots at all.

And I don't know anyone else who bothered either.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

[bkkjames]

I wouldn't bother with any shots at all.

And I don't know anyone else who bothered either.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

I agree totally.

[cooked]

I wouldn't bother with any shots at all.

And I don't know anyone else who bothered either.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

well in that case why get insurance? You might go to the doctor for a dog bite but how about exposure to all the other animals liable to be carriers (mice, rats, bats, monkeys...not necessarily bites, a few unnoticed scratches will do it )? This isn't a mild problem that you can tough out, and I find actually advising people not to get the shot irresponsible. The guy has to make up his own mind.

A short stay person maybe doesn't need rabies prevention but anyone living out in the sticks will be feeling better for it, especially if he lives 20 Km from the next hospital as we do.

,

[orchis]

I am the secon

.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

I would be the second, then.

[bkkjames]

I am the secon

.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

I would be the second, then.

Sorry I dont get it at all. The Hep stuff ok but rabies? Seriously, I have 2 Half Thai Kids and nowhere have I seen in the regular and optional inoculation list a heading for Rabies. My feeling is that if 64 Million + Thais dont need the shot then why would a tourist. Back in the old days when I used to travel here on vacation I can remember the travel health clinic back home recommending Malaria tablets too. For most (not all) tourists to Thailand, this would not be a requirement and is overkill.

[David006]

I am the secon

.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

I would be the second, then.

Sorry I dont get it at all. The Hep stuff ok but rabies? Seriously, I have 2 Half Thai Kids and nowhere have I seen in the regular and optional inoculation list a heading for Rabies. My feeling is that if 64 Million + Thais dont need the shot then why would a tourist. Back in the old days when I used to travel here on vacation I can remember the travel health clinic back home recommending Malaria tablets too. For most (not all) tourists to Thailand, this would not be a requirement and is overkill.

Are all Canadians that paranoid..I think we can expect the usual why don't they's and ,why can't I's and where can I find's, and how come they's....geesh ...

..just come lady..work it out when your here and enjoy!!!..maybe stay away from Phi Phi rooming houses though ...lol

[Ohyesuare]

The hepatitis shots are covered but not the other ones. You will have to go to a travel health clinic a d pay yourself I believe.

[TommoPhysicist]

I wouldn't bother with any shots at all.

And I don't know anyone else who bothered either.

Sheryl is the first person I have ever read about, having rabies vaccine without first being bitten.

well in that case why get insurance?

I don't have any insurance either (apart from gov. comp. vehicle)

Been here 5 years, live in the wilds, never bitten or scratched by any strange animals.

[Andre0720]

I am canadian. Been in Thailand 6 months or more for some 8 or 9 years. No shots are required, nothing different from being in Canada. Tetanus, of course. Probably already done for most canadians. Hepatitis A and B, same. In Canada, there are clinics for international travel, I recall using my private medical insurance for coverage, not the provincial one.

I would not consider getting any shots.

Because of a cut on my elbow 3 years ago, the doctor gave me another tetanus shot, just to make sure.

[Puccini]

Like Sheryl advised and Andre0720 did for his personal evaluation: look at your past vaccination history.

Looking at the list of eight vaccinations to which the OP linked we should not misunderstand it to think that all eight are recommended for Jelopi, who comes from Canada and plans to move to Thailand. Only two apply to her, on the basis of the available information: hepatitis A and hepatitis B, if she has not already had them. The other six are conditional, depending on where she comes from (yellow fever) or where she will be in Thailand, and again only if she has not already had them.

As some posters have said, most people have already had vaccinations for hepatitis A and B and for tetanus, probably also for measles, mumps and rubella.

All added up I probably spent over ten years in Thailand, have never been bitten there by a dog, did not know about the existence of a pre-exposure rabies vaccine, but know that I know, it makes a lot of sense to me to get this vaccination, still hoping of course that I will never be bitten by a dog again (the last and only time was in Italy, at a very young age)

[Andre0720]

Like Sheryl advised and Andre0720 did for his personal evaluation: look at your past vaccination history.

Looking at the list of eight vaccinations to which the OP linked we should not misunderstand it to think that all eight are recommended for Jelopi, who comes from Canada and plans to move to Thailand. Only two apply to her, on the basis of the available information: hepatitis A and hepatitis B, if she has not already had them. The other six are conditional, depending on where she comes from (yellow fever) or where she will be in Thailand, and again only if she has not already had them.

As some posters have said, most people have already had vaccinations for hepatitis A and B and for tetanus, probably also for measles, mumps and rubella.

All added up I probably spent over ten years in Thailand, have never been bitten there by a dog, did not know about the existence of a pre-exposure rabies vaccine, but know that I know, it makes a lot of sense to me to get this vaccination, still hoping of course that I will never be bitten by a dog again (the last and only time was in Italy, at a very young age)

Quite right.

This list of required immunizations and recommendations is very misleading. Particularly the yellow fever one.

If someone arrives in Thailand from Africa, or Latin or South America, a yellow fever shot would be mandatory. and at the cost of the individual, since this shot has nothing to do with Canada and its medical coverage.

Coming from USA or Canada, nothing is required....just some patronizing recommendations.

Of course, hepatitis A and B immunization is indicated, as well as Tetanos...but not because someone is going to Thailand.

Just get admitted, and enjoy it...

[Puccini]

The recommendations quoted in the OP are not misleading. What happened is that some people replied based on their misunderstanding of them because they did not read them completely or correctly, ie ignored the "if" part of sentences.

Actually, the recommendation of the yellow fever vaccination if you have recently been in an area where this disease exists is not for your protection, but for the protection of the people in Thailand to whom you might spread the disease if you should be carrying the virus.

[cdnvic]

The hep a/b shots are about $50-60 (last time I got them was 3 yrs ago). Everything else is usually about $10ea. The Hep vaccination is two shots so call your doctor or a clinic ahead of time to ask how far ahead to schedule. If you work in the food or health industry, some of them may be free. Call a clinic for local info.

[lopburi3]

Hep A here in Bangkok is about 1800 baht at higher priced hospital as got one this week (had the B when first available). Tetanus was about 800 and Flu about 700. And I am another that had the pre rabies series (several decades ago).