Getting Hepatitis A In Bangkok?

[patjk]

Hello,

I am an American (23/M) coming from the US living in Thailand for a year or so. Since I am leaving in less than 30 days, I won't be able to get the Hep A vaccine (since it is 1 now, 1 in 30 days, and 1 in 6 months). Is it normal to get them in Bangkok? If so, what is the cost? Will I be safe for the first month or so while I get this?

Thanks in advance for any info!

[lopburi3]

Believe you are talking about the combined A & B vaccination when you speak of 3 shots rather than the A which is only two shots and is effective almost immediately. Below is for the dedicate A vaccine.

Normal is one shot followed 6-18 months later with booster and there is no reason you can not take now (old recommendation was more than two weeks prior travel but now anytime is consided good per CDC quote below).

...the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has amended its guidelines for Hepatitis A vaccination for travelers. ACIP now recommends that one dose of single-antigen Hepatitis A vaccine administered at any time before departure may provide adequate protection for most healthy persons.

As for price here I had last month at moderately expensive hospital and price was 1,760 baht for Avaxin 160.

[patjk]

Believe you are talking about the combined A & B vaccination when you speak of 3 shots rather than the A which is only two shots and is effective almost immediately. Below is for the dedicate A vaccine.

Normal is one shot followed 6-18 months later with booster and there is no reason you can not take now (old recommendation was more than two weeks prior travel but now anytime is consided good per CDC quote below).

...the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has amended its guidelines for Hepatitis A vaccination for travelers. ACIP now recommends that one dose of single-antigen Hepatitis A vaccine administered at any time before departure may provide adequate protection for most healthy persons.

As for price here I had last month at moderately expensive hospital and price was 1,760 baht for Avaxin 160.

Bingo, you're absolutely right. Went in an got the Hep A shot just now. Hopefully insurance will cover it, if not it was $110, which is double what you quoted. Anyways, thanks for the help, much appreciated!

[blorg]

The best place to get vaccinations in Bangkok IMO is the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (Thai Red Cross.) Hep A was 1,400B IIRC, it was the most expensive vaccination I got. I was getting a ton of other stuff at the same time (JE, rabies, yellow fever) and you just pay for the vaccines plus a 20B hospital ID and a 30B doctor consultation/nursing fee. They don't charge either of these again when you come back to complete the course. Extremely reasonable.