Vaccinations for Thailand

[Optics]

My family and I are travelling to Thailand in September (Bangkok and Kho Samui), and knowing the level of general travel expertise here, I was wondering what people thought was necessary regarding vaccinations. We have heard that Hep A is really all that is needed, and my family has got that. However, I am finding it difficult to get to the doctor and was wondering if people thought it was really necessary?

I would appreciate your thoughts, but assure you I will not rely on it as medical advice, so don't fear I will try to sue you later if you say it is not necessary and I get sick while there .

 

[mzy]

I normally refer to the Travelvax web site for these questions.

Travelvax Australia

...cheers, mzy

 

[taswegian77]

Thailand is like a second home to me, actually lived there for 3 months last year and travel there on average 1 trip per month.

You need to get the Hep A shots as the water quality is not of drinking standard or even teeth washing standard unless you are staying at top 5 star hotels and even then it is always bottled water in your rooms. Also you need to remember that ice is most likely normal water frozen, not bottled water frozen.

having said all that I have survived going there for the past 4 years but I make sure local water is off the agenda.

My wife also got a Hep B shot as well as another one, I will check tonight and let you know. My son also got whatever vacs he was allowed to at the time as he was only 11 months. I will post the details tomorrow when I find out what they had.

 

[Optics]

I normally refer to the Travelvax web site for these questions.

Travelvax Australia

...cheers, mzy

Thanks. I have read several of these type sites, and of course they all advise Hep A and one or two others. However, they have to err on the side of caution, so I was hoping for some more real world advice from those that have visited there.

 

[Optics]

Thailand is like a second home to me, actually lived there for 3 months last year and travel there on average 1 trip per month.

You need to get the Hep A shots as the water quality is not of drinking standard or even teeth washing standard unless you are staying at top 5 star hotels and even then it is always bottled water in your rooms. Also you need to remember that ice is most likely normal water frozen, not bottled water frozen.

having said all that I have survived going there for the past 4 years but I make sure local water is off the agenda.

My wife also got a Hep B shot as well as another one, I will check tonight and let you know. My son also got whatever vacs he was allowed to at the time as he was only 11 months. I will post the details tomorrow when I find out what they had.

Thanks, looks like I should make the effort and get the Hep A at least. We are staying at good hotels and will only drink bottled water, but as you say the worry is the ice they put in my G&Ts.

 

[taswegian77]

look, i got my family vaccinated fro two reasons, (1 the company was paying and 2 i prefer them not to get sick). I was vaccinated for everything about 10 years back when doing travel to the Philippines so I have no idea how long these things last for but only been sick once in last 4 years travel to Thailand.

I think I am immune now as I do not worry about the ice in drinks anymore, even at local bars etc. It is either immunity or the strength of the scotch.

 

[JohnK]

When I first went to Thailand for work I got the vaccinations before I left. It was Tetanus, Pertussis and Diptheria ( I think these three are the one vaccination), Typhoid, Hep A, Hep B and malaria tablets. From what I understand the Hep A injections did not give me antibodies and I have not bothered going back for more injections and I stopped taking the malaria tablets after 1 year or so.

Do not drink the water and do not even brush your teeth with the tap water. A 600mL bottle of drinking water is only 7 baht (<$0.25) and if you buy a 10L bottle it is even cheaper. Be careful when eating salads as they wash these with tap water. Be careful when eating at street stalls as they only rinse the plates and cups with tap water and do not use disinfectants. Be careful with ice cubes as these are also tap water.

Even trying to avoid tap water at all costs is impossible as you still have to shower and you do build up immunities over time. I have only been sick 3 times in 15 trips, so I have come off relatively unscathed. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Mal]

The Hep A/B vaccinations are actually quite handy for general life - not just travelling. I've been through the various injections with no side-effects.

Note the combined shot is around $80 x 3 plus perhaps a doctor's visit fee or three, so it's not cheap. At least Medibank gave me some rebate on it via my package plus options.

I would also recommend Chickenpox and Measles vac's if you havn't been through those in childhood. Having caught Chickenpox a few years ago in Singapore (I suspect), and experiencing it in adulthood was not a fun experience. At least I managed to get back to Australia for a couple of days before the rash/effects started - otherwise I would have been quarantined in my hotel room for around a week!

MD TravelHealth website also recommends similar vax's to what JohnK suggests.

MD Travel Health - Thailand - vaccinations, malaria, safety, and other medical advice

Malaria shouldn't be a concern if not going into very rural forestry type areas.

You can also get vaccinations over in Bangkok for pretty good prices compared to Australia - for example at the Red Cross centre attached to the Snake Farm. But of course immunity isn't instant, so you need several weeks or multiple shots in some cases to get resistance. I have no experience of getting shots there, but looked into it a couple of years ago, and will probably get the Yellow Fever and a couple of catch up shots next time I'm in BKK.

Note none of this advice should substitute for you visiting a travel doctor or your local doctor for advice over which vaccinations you should get...

 

[v8Statesman]

Note none of this advice should substitute for you visiting a travel doctor or your local doctor for advice over which vaccinations you should get...

Now T&C's should be in smaller print

 

[Alanslegal]

I went to my Doc & told him I am going to Thailand - so he gives me this injection which costs around $100 which is a 3-in-1 type shot.

Can't recall the name but he said you only need to do it once every ten years.

 

[N860CR]

That would be the twinrix shot (covers Hep A + B). Make sure you get it a good 6 weeks before travelling as its a stage process.

Realistically, as long as you're careful, Thailand is safe and healthy (I've even been into hospital there and came out fine).

 

[taswegian77]

yes, the hospitals in Thailand (well in Bangkok) are world class standard, I would go as far to say the Bumrungrad Hospital on Sukhumvit Soi 3 is better than any hospital I have used in Australia. Top Shelf service and quality of care, my family have all used this hospital and it is nearly like a hotel in quality and service, at all times of the day.

 

[Optics]

Thanks all for the responses. I will make time to get the Hep A. I have already had most others while in the Army, but don't think I had Hep A. Main thing is I ensured the family got what the doctor recommended.

 

[Will]

Are you up to date on the normal schedule of vaccinations? You should already be Hep B immune, and this is especially important for travel to SE Asia where it is endemic.
And how old are you? ie if over 55, you might consider Strep Pneumoniae vax (Pneumococcal), and influenza.
If you are within range of hospitals, tetanus booster is not necessary as you can have one after the exposure (eg dirty wound).
Hep A is important too, but it sounds like you have already got advice to that effect.
Good luck - and you should definitely see a doctor who specialises in travel medicine to discuss this if you have any concerns.
PM me if you have any questions about specific vaccines

 

[maninblack]

There are a number of specialist travel GP's in Melbourne. I see one in Caulfield North, Find A Clinic - Travel Clinics Australia They are very on the ball with necessary immunisations, medications, advice etc.

 

[dajop]

Also you need to remember that ice is most likely normal water frozen, not bottled water frozen.

I was advised by locals (expats) in Thailand that if the ice comes with a round hole in the middle of it - it should be OK, but normal cubes and crushed ice are no-no's. Ice at upscale (5*) hotels and resorts is usually OK, but worth checkin if not sure.

 

[JohnK]

I would find it difficult to believe that any water is safe, except for boiled, in Thailand. Me being the cynic that I am would find it very surprising if Thailand has enough fresh, clean spring water to supply all of the bottled water sold in Thailand. Personally I also think Australia and the rest of the world is in the same boat.

I was advised by locals (expats) in Thailand that if the ice comes with a round hole in the middle of it - it should be OK, but normal cubes and crushed ice are no-no's. Ice at upscale (5*) hotels and resorts is usually OK, but worth checkin if not sure.

Wise advise but please remember that Thailand is a 3rd world country and just because you stay in a 5* hotel does not mean that the hygiene standards of catering staff is that much better than anywhere else in Thailand. The people working there come from the poorer parts of Thailand like Isaan.

Warning about crushed ice in Thailand. It is crushed by placing ice cubes in a naked palm of the hand and hitting a few times with a metal object. Place crushed ice in container and repeat. That hand may not have been washed before preparing crushed ice. The metal object, usually a scoop, has definitely not being washed.

Warning about eating peanuts offered in a small plate when drinking an alcoholic beverage. They do not wash the small plate and it has been used all night for the same purpose.

I really do not bother anymore. I figure that I have already built up some sort of immunity for most infections one is liable to run into in Thailand and SE Asia....