Vaccinations (prior to travel)

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  1. #1

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    Vaccinations (prior to travel)

    I searched the forum and found a few very old threads so I'm taking the liberty of starting a new one

    I'm off to Borneo for a 2 week 'jungle' adventure in 2nd week of July. I've been recommended to get quite a few vaccinations (Malaria, typhoid, rabies, hep AB etc.).

    Apparently, vaccinations can get quite expensive depending of where I go.

    For my general health issues, I go to Quality Healthcare as I have BUPA through my employeer. I haven't checked there yet but I suspect a long list of vaccinations gonna cost. In an old thread, the Travel Health Centre was recommended. Unfortunately, they can't take appointments until August!

    So I'm wondering, any new recommendations of a reliable place?

    Thanks.


  2. #2

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    I wouldn't worry about vaccinations. Waste of time. I haven't done anything since 2003 and travelled the world.

    Though, if i was going back to Africa I would do Typhoid and Hep. Malaria are tabs unless it's changes in the last 5 years or so.


  3. #3

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    You're cutting it a bit fine. The Hep B one comes in three shots, I believe.

    The other option is private hospitals, e.g. the 24-hr outpatient clinic at HKSH. Can't say they would be any cheaper than Quality.

    Last edited by Claire ex-ax; 11-06-2012 at 03:57 PM.

  4. #4

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    Too late? Yes I'm cutting it close. So I gotta get whatever is necessary, if any, this week.

    Here's an email I got from Travel Health Centre:

    In general, the health hazards in Borneo include, but are not limited to, the following:
    1. Food and water borne diseases: hepatitis A, typhoid fever, viral gastroenteritiss etc.
    2. Insect borne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya fever etc.
    3. Respiratory diseases: influenza, tuberculosis etc.
    4. Contact borne diseases: hepatitis B, AIDS, rabies, tetanus etc
    5. Environmental health risk: high altitude sickness etc

    There are vaccines against hepatitis A, typhoid fever, Japanese encephalitis, influenza, hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus and preventive medication against malaria. Some vaccines may require more than 1 shot spreading over a period of time and some require at least 4 weeks to become effective. The need for these vaccines and preventive medication depends on the details of journey arrangement, personal medical conditions and past vaccination history. You should contact our Travel Health Centre or private doctor clinic providing travel health service for health measures required.


  5. #5

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    They forgot to add 'headhunters'...


  6. #6

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    Wear long sleeves and long pants and apply lots of insect repellant at dawn/dusk - that accounts for all the insect-borne diseases.
    Eat only well cooked food, fruit you can peel and generally take sensible precautions with food (ie avoid buffets, avoid ice-cream and avoid sandwiches). That accounts for the food borne diseases.

    I've hiked in Borneo twice - never bothered with additional jabs - having said that, I had everything under the sun before migrating to Malaysia in 1998, some of which might have some residual effect, but probably not!