Vaccinations

[Tianjin42]

Hi,

I will be coming to Beijing for the year from September. I have been considering which vaccinations I will need and I have found quite conflicting advice. I don't intend to travel south in the summer or anything like this. For those of you who have travelled out there, which vaccinations did you have?

I am looking at Hep A and Typhoid. Not sure the others are necessary.

Thanks,

M

[Frans]

If you're going to travel it might be good to protect yourself against diseases more common in rural areares. I've got vaccinated against Hep A,B and Japanese Encephalitis the last witch is more common in rural areas. Not sure how common it is, but since it seems to be pretty bad I'm not taking any chances. I want to travel without worry. hehe

[jbradfor]

FWIW, here is the US CSC recommendations. [Just scroll down a bit.]

And if you can't trust the US CSC, who can you trust? :o

[Sinanthropus]

I'm off to China next month and recently had these done:

Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Diptheria, Polio and Tetnus.

I need to get a Mantoux test to check on my TB immunity, but will get a shot if it's negative.

After speaking to a few nurses and weighing up the exposure risk I decided against JE, cholera and rabies.

This website is quite good for info:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/asia/china.shtml

[Tianjin42]

Okay, thank you.

Last time I had Hep A and Typhoid, vaccinations and this was fine. Also, last time I was travelling and spent, for example, a lot of time in Xinjiang whereas this time I wont be venturing far from Beijing. I think it all depends on what you will be doing when there etc (hence it is interesting to hear what people who are actually out there/ will be travelling out soon, have actually been immunised against).

Thanks and if anyone else wants to add anything please do.

[Xauner]

When I took my vaccination they told me I only really needed Hep A/B and Typhoid. They did recommend Japanese Encephalitis IF I was to spend several weeks in rural areas, which I don't think I will. Err they also recommend vaccine against Tourist Diarreah(might be a better english word for it, I just translated from swedish) if you're known to have a weak stomache while adjusting to the cuisine there.

[jmhcali]

I don't believe there is any such thing as a vaccine against traveller's diarrhea, since there are so many different causes and most of them are bacterial. Just don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked or doesn't come in a sealed container.

[m000gle]

There's no vaccine for travellers' diarrhea, but I would highly recommend getting medication for it prescribed from a doctor before you leave and bringing it with you. Changes in diet, exposure to unfamiliar parasites and changes in hygiene commonly lead to problems like this when traveling/moving; this is especially true when making the transition to China from a country with tougher health regulations regarding food etc.

Other than that, while there in 2007 I was vaccinated for:

- Typhoid*

- Hepatitis A/B*

...got a booster for:

- Tetanus*

- Measles, Mumps & Rhubella (may not be needed for you, but mine would be out of date)

...and declined (due to $500 cost and likelihood of exposure):

- Japanese Encephalitis

The starred (*) ones seem to be the most commonly recommended ones, on travel/CDC sites, for people staying in mainly urban areas.

Another thing to consider is generic medications you might want/need while in China before you're settled and comfortable with just buying domestic. For example:

- acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)

- antihistamine or other allergy medication

- multivitamins etc.

[dolldalera]

Last week I got my vaccination for the flu/influenza. In my 2008 trip (prior) to China, I got a vaccination for typhoid and meningococcemia which both lasts 3 years. Uh, I'm also having my blood tested because my doctor wants to see if I have enough antibodies. If I don't have enough, I'll need the Hepa A/B vaccine as well.

Also, make sure you have your personal medication with you. My friend forgot her medicines for her "panic attacks" back in 2008, and she had one when we were one week into our 6 week student exchange program thing. She didn't want to go to the doctor or have herself seen there so she decided to go home. Such a waste. I'm bringing my nasal spray for my allergic rhinitis/hay fever and my topical cream for my skin asthma.

Hope that helps a little. Glad you opened this topic so I can also see what meds/vaccinations I need to get.

[Frans]

500$?!?! for how many shots? I thought mine was expensive and I have to pay 220 (CAD) for 2. Glad I don't live in Canada. ;)

[Sarpedon]

Anyplace to get these vaccines in China? Leaving in 2 weeks doesn't allow to get multi-shot vaccinations for HepA, B, etc. I suppose there is some measure of protection provided by the initial shot in the series, but does anyone know for sure?

[Jane_PA]

I think many hospitals or school clinics should have those vacinations in China.

I was also suggested to have those vaccinations before I came to the U.S. or travel to any other foreign countries, like before I went to the middle east.

[m000gle]

@Frans

The cheapest I've seen the Japanese Encephalitis ones for is $220 each for two shots, so $440 total. I guess I rounded up when I should have gone down, but the point still stands: the chances of getting it simply didn't justify the cost.

Thankfully the medical itself was quite cheap at about $100 all included