Vaccines in Bangkok, 1 year old, 5 year old, 10 year old

[jeremyhumboldt]

We are Cambodian and do not speak Thai, so it would be useful if the doctor speaks either at least a little English or some kaMein.

We may only come to Thailand once, so the doctors understanding of that will be important so we do not get vaccines that require boosters or follow up.

Cost is a consideration , we do not need free, but a relatively inexpensive place is preferred. Relatively central so that we do not get too too lost is a plus, as is a pediatrician in case we have any medical problems that require a medical opinion or treatment.

Our status will be tourist visas if that is relevant. Thank you

[Sheryl]

I am not clear on what vaccines are needed and why? Surely the children will already have had the normal vaccines?

If you are coming from Cambodia the immunization schedule for children is essentially the same so nothing special needed.

If you are coming from a Western country, vaccines needed here which your children might possinly not have received are Japanese B encephalitis (necessary only if you will be spending time in rural areas) and Hepatitis B. Both do require a series as is true of most vaccines.

The other vaccine often advised for Thailand is the rabies pre-exposure vaccine but this too is a series and probably not worth getting if you will be in Thailand just a short time.

For pediatric care in Bangkok I suggest St Louis Hospital on Sathorn Road (look up their website). It is private but nonprofit and reasonably priced. All the doctors speak English as do some of the nursing and administrative staff and many Cambodisns and Westernerds go there

If you can explain more about what vaccines are needed and why perhaps I can advise further.

[jeremyhumboldt]

Vaccines in Cambodia: reputation is that they are not stored properly, that there might be a problem with counterfeiting, that dr overcharge and recommend based on getting a profit rather than what is appropriate for the child. That is why we are looking during our brief visit to Thailand.

Cost is a consideration.

Personal experiences with St. Louis for other medical needs have included a couple poor diagnoses / treatments, so quite interested in other suggestions, particularly low cost ones, especially if the low cost ones include at least a little English and or KaMein,

Also interested in a low cost pediatrician for a general examination.

Thank you

[Jasun]

I am not clear on what vaccines are needed and why? Surely the children will already have had the normal vaccines?

If you are coming from Cambodia the immunization schedule for children is essentially the same so nothing special needed.

If you are coming from a Western country, vaccines needed here which your children might possinly not have received are Japanese B encephalitis (necessary only if you will be spending time in rural areas) and Hepatitis B. Both do require a series as is true of most vaccines.

The other vaccine often advised for Thailand is the rabies pre-exposure vaccine but this too is a series and probably not worth getting if you will be in Thailand just a short time.

For pediatric care in Bangkok I suggest St Louis Hospital on Sathorn Road (look up their website). It is private but nonprofit and reasonably priced. All the doctors speak English as do some of the nursing and administrative staff and many Cambodisns and Westernerds go there

If you can explain more about what vaccines are needed and why perhaps I can advise further.

+1 for St Louis. The postnatal and paediatric care is as good as anywhere else we've been in BKK, and a quarter of the cost of the big privates. On top of the others vaccines mentioned you don't get in the west, they also administer small pox.

[lopburi3]

Vaccines in Cambodia: reputation is that they are not stored properly, that there might be a problem with counterfeiting, that dr overcharge and recommend based on getting a profit rather than what is appropriate for the child. That is why we are looking during our brief visit to Thailand.

Cost is a consideration.

Personal experiences with St. Louis for other medical needs have included a couple poor diagnoses / treatments, so quite interested in other suggestions, particularly low cost ones, especially if the low cost ones include at least a little English and or KaMein,

Also interested in a low cost pediatrician for a general examination.

Thank you

My Bold can probably be said of any hospital by some patients - best to find doctor for specific treatment - but for administration of your standard vaccines they should be fine. But it is not clear if your children have already had the vaccines? Sheryl will be able to provide other hospitals in same price range and probably a specific doctor now that you have asked about that. In my experience all doctors speak at least some English.

[Sheryl]

Vaccines in Cambodia: reputation is that they are not stored properly, that there might be a problem with counterfeiting, that dr overcharge and recommend based on getting a profit rather than what is appropriate for the child. That is why we are looking during our brief visit to Thailand.

Cost is a consideration.

Personal experiences with St. Louis for other medical needs have included a couple poor diagnoses / treatments, so quite interested in other suggestions, particularly low cost ones, especially if the low cost ones include at least a little English and or KaMein,

Also interested in a low cost pediatrician for a general examination.

Thank you

I have worked in public health in Cambodia for over 15 years and never encountered or heard of counterfeit vaccines. Counterfrit brand name drugs yes, but not vaccines. Vaccine storage is usually OK but of course depends on the facility. As for advising unnecessary vsccines, the government has a very clear schedule of recommended vaccines that conforms to international recommendations.

Where exactly in Cambodia did your children receibe their vaccinations?

If you are truly wanting to repeat the entire childhood vaccine series for all of your children because you lack confidence in the quality of the vaccines they receivef in Cambodis that would entail multiple visits over about a 6 month period as except for measles-mumps-rubella, all of the vaccines are a series.

In any hospital there are both good and not so good doctors. St. Louis has some very good doctors and good care can be gotten there. But ig you prefer elsewhere then I suggest Bangkok Christian Hospital.

There are no hospitals in Bangkok which speak Khmet though occasionally you will come across some staff from Issan region of Thailand who speak it (slightly different dialect). Doctors in private hospitals all speak English.

There are some good and reliable pediatricians in Phnom Pehn well able to provide what you need in my opinion. For serious problems and specialist care it is still advisable to leave the country but for well child check-ups and immunizations, can be gotten there.

[Sheryl]

P.S. St Louis has recently revamped their website and it is not yet available in Thai, this is why I cannot suggest a specific doctor there. and unfortunately Bkk Christian, while their site is in English, gives no details on doctor qualifications.

Believe it or not, well child check-ups are not that common in Thailand so don't be surprised if what you get -- wherever you end up going - is rather cursory. You can get a thorough, westerm-style check-up at Samitivej Children's Hospital but I did nto mention it earlier as it tends to be expensive http://www.samitivejhospitals.com/medicalservice/sukhumvit/child_health_institute_124/en

BTW the following are recommended pediatricians in Phnom Penh, 2 are Khmer and 2 foreign:

Prof. Eap – Apsara Clinic st. 115 tel 089588914

6-8 in morning and then 4-8 in evenings. He is usually there in weekends too. During day time he is faculty in the university.

Prof.. Chean Sophal at Royal Rattanak Hospital and also at Khema Clinic # 18, St. 528 Toul Kork, tel 092 616 113, 023 880 949

Dr. Sutton Whitaker - Embassy Medical Center street 228, house #18
Phone: 023 426 091 or 023 63 73 991 or 023 63 73 992

He is American

Dr. Marissa Regina

262 St 63 BKK I Phn
Tel : 023 217 349 , 012 803 610

She is Filippino

Regarding the immunization issue, I think you will find it hard to convince any doctor to repeat immunizations your children have already had (and anyway, as noted, almost all vaccines require a series of injections over time). Any needed boosters or missing immunizations yes, but repeating all vaccines received, probably not.

Your older children may be lacking the Japanese B Encephalitis vaccines and if so, it is advisable to get. Possible that the 10 year old will not have had Hepatitis B vaccine, if so, ditto.

For the 1 year old only, you might like to consider the rotavirus vaccine (protects against a common cause of diarrhea) - this has not yet been introduced into the routine immunization schedule in Cambodia (though under consideration). It is available at private hospitals in Thailand. Not necessary for the older children.

I assume all the children have already had the routine vaccinations (BCG, polio, DPT, measles etc).