SE Asia Vaccinations - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

darsh_2k6 · 04-04-2008, 11:55 AM

Hey there guys, I'm heading out to SEA this summer and was wondering if there's any required/recommended vaccinations i should get before i leave. Also, any other health related things i should know about? Thx!!!

**Esterina** · 04-05-2008, 08:40 AM

Hi! Indeed, you will need vaccinations prior to leaving, and to bring your vaccinations book (or whatever the real name is, excuse my english) with you in case they ask for proof at the border. Chances are you won't need to show it, but I had to to enter Vietnam, althoug they didn't look at it!. So it is among the documents required to enter countries in SEA.

The best is to contact a travel clinic in your area, and they will know exactly which vaccinations are required based on your ititnerary. The needs differ by countries and whether you travel in the countryside or not. You will surely have to take pills for Malaria, plus have Hepatite A+B vaccines.

Hope this helps! If you have more questions, do not hesistate.

**buzzingtalk** · 04-05-2008, 03:15 PM

i visited my GP and she told me what i needed. i still havent had all of em done as i didnt have any jabs when i was young cos i was too ill, but dont underestimate it! if your in the UK the rabies jab is bloody expensive, im not sure how long it is you gotta wait for it to kick in but get it in asia, some places you can get it done privatley for cheap rather than the 120 odd pounds it is in the uk.

most important thing though - ANTIMALARIALS! dont forget! go to your GP and tell him how long your away for, ask for a bigger box = in the uk, a saving. dont self medicate antihistamines - theres different ones. ask a travel doctor, and be safe.

buy your mozzie repellent over in the uk/america or where your from, and make sure it has DEET in it. this stuff does the trick - i found finding DEET spray and cream quite tricky in some parts of asia. they say their cream works - but it only works on them as they are used to it! getting bitten to hell is not nice (ive been there many times) so cover up when its been raining and always have a spray before you leave the house

**buzzingtalk** · 04-05-2008, 03:17 PM

oh and i forgot to say, if your in the UK in my experience doctors dont know about vaccination booklets (mine dont!) just ask them for an updated print out of your vaccination history and it should do the trick. also if you need to carry any medicines with you its often worth gettin a doctors note with a list. i had to do this with my injection that i had to carry with me and a few other things, without my note my drugs would have beeb siezed and id have been screwed!

also buy mozzie coils in asia if you dont know what im talking about, you will, they are about 5p and light one when your in ya room at night, it keeps the mozzies at bay