A question of vaccinations....

[munitalP]

As some of you are aware, Mrs! and I are heading to China at Christmas for a few weeks covering Shanghai, Beijing, Harbin and Taipei. (we ditched Xi'an due to great dumplings in Taipei )

Yesterday we done the N1H1 shots (they hurt!) as I personally thought that this was far more important than anything else, but Mr Doc at the local medical centre disagreed and said we needed myriad of other shots including yellow fever and malaria to name a couple.

Is this revenue generation or are they actually needed?

Does temperature play a part in the nasties that can cause these diseases? I know I rarely see a mozzie in winter - and that's in OZ let alone a country with average daily temperatures in the minus...

I am confused, I don't like the idea of pumping vaccinations into me with no good reason...

Mr!

 

[Hawkeye]

From a medical perspective, I would advocate having them. I am not a Travel Health expert, nor an Infectious Diseases doc, however.

I agree that the risk of acquiring the infections is relatively low; however, the consequences should you develop either are severe, and potentially life-threatening. Conversely, the risk of complications from the vaccination / prophylaxis schedule are low.

Given that risk:benefit assessment, I would go ahead with them.

However, you are best seeking advice from a travel health medico if you are very keen to avoid them.

 

[PaulC83]

I always have gone by having typhoid, hep A/B, as these are quite easy to pick up (through water/food, and blood contact).

Yellow Fever is only important if you are going into a Yellow Fever area, as you may be hit up about it going through other countries or returning to Australia. WHO/DFAT have info on that on their websites.

Malaria is usually a course of tablets, and needs to be taken whilst travelling through a Malaria infected area. Again travel advice for the area would really dictate wether or not this is required. If you are sticking to cities its probably not important.

 

[Hvr]

Ask these guys The Travel Doctor TMVC

I used them last year and found they asked the right questions about timings/length of stay etc. Also they have the vaccines available so you can do them immediately if required.

Must go back myself for my next trip in January as well noting I will also be in Beijing and Harbin amongst other places.

 

[yo yo ma]

Yesterday we done the N1H1 shots (they hurt!) as I personally thought that this was far more important than anything else, but Mr Doc at the local medical centre disagreed and said we needed myriad of other shots including yellow fever and malaria to name a couple.

Is this revenue generation or are they actually needed?

I doubt it would be revenue... I think more likely related to reducing the risk? If you contracted yellow fever when in China (& was not immunised), you might be able to sue the doctor? If he gave you the option and you declined, then you take ownership of the risk.


You cannot be immunised against malaria... you can only take prophylaxis orally. I am in PNG and treat a lot of malaria but it only comes from certain areas. I have never taken the tablets myself as I have heard many negative thing about them. The best way to prevent malaria is to:

• stay indoors between dusk and dawn
• use rooms with flyscreens / air conditioning
• wear long sleeves / long pants
• use insect repellant on exposed areas

If you don't get bitten, you can't catch malaria. If you are suffering symptoms (headache, fevers, joint pain, gastro-intestinal symptoms) seek treatment early.

I have never been to China, so can't comment specifically on the areas you have mentioned.

 

[Sprucegoose]

As some of you are aware, Mrs! and I are heading to China at Christmas for a few weeks covering Shanghai, Beijing, Harbin and Taipei. (we ditched Xi'an due to great dumplings in Taipei )

Yesterday we done the N1H1 shots (they hurt!) as I personally thought that this was far more important than anything else, but Mr Doc at the local medical centre disagreed and said we needed myriad of other shots including yellow fever and malaria to name a couple.

Is this revenue generation or are they actually needed?

Does temperature play a part in the nasties that can cause these diseases? I know I rarely see a mozzie in winter - and that's in OZ let alone a country with average daily temperatures in the minus...



I am confused, I don't like the idea of pumping vaccinations into me with no good reason...

Mr!

Absolute rubbish. Take some good antibiotics with you for severe stomach bugs (noroxin) and forget the rest.

Yellow fever certificate is not required to get into Asia anywhere, change doctors. (in some countries if you dont have the certificate they can bar you from entry)

did you see a travel doctor?

cheers

SPRUCE:evil:

 

[Happy Dude]

I did a similar trip at a similar time 3 years ago. Sounds like overkill for city areas and you're not going west enough in China to worry about yellow fever and malaria. (Actually, I've not heard of Yellow Fever outside of Africa and some South American countries but your doc might have). You'll be wearing so many layers that mossies, in the extremely unlikely event that you even see one, can't get through - in Beijing and Haerbin anyways.

However, I would ensure that Hep A and B, tetanus, polio, Jap Encephalitis, typhoid are up to date.

The muslim quarter in Xi'an has splendid dumplings, by the way, and fresh noodle shops where you tell them how thick to cut said noodles. Enjoy the ice festival in Haerbin - very under-rated!

 

[DrAndyC]

Yellow Fever only occurs in parts of Sth America and Africa....so you DO NOT need this if travelling from Australia.

For your chinese travels I would simply recommend HepA and typhoid +/- swine flu vax and being up to date with diptheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTPa). The former (HepA/typhoid) can be combined in 1 shot (but it does cost about $100). This should provide protection from both of these (which are from faecally contaminated food / poor food hygiene) etc and will last for up to 36 months. A booster before then will extend protection of the HepA to 10-20 years. Typhoid will need to be done every 3 years at the least. Your tetanus combo booster at least within 10 years.

Hepatitis B (which is sexually acquired or blood borne) is not overtly necessary but still a good idea if you travel a lot anyway (and have sex with locals or think you may ever need a blood transfusion whilst over there - ie from an accident)

some people advocate Japanese encephalitis (although during your time of travel, over xmas, there is neglibible transmission) and rabies vaccines as well, but this is not required for most normal itineraries (unless you were to work in whoop whoop and playing with animals)....if you do get bitten by an animal, make sure you see someone within 24 hours for post-bite rabies shots however. Same for cholera....if you are going to whoop whoop this may be beneficial, otherwise strict water and food hygiene should suffice (the vaccine "Dukoral" is a drink which is done twice a week apart) if u think you are at risk. If in doubt having it is not so bad as it cross protects against some other bacterial food poisonings as well anyway,

Dengue, a virus, is transmitted in southern china and taipei so wear insect protection (there is no vaccine for this).

A good website: www.thehtd.org (Hospital of Tropical Diseases in London - where I once worked) is a good resource. Search under "destinations".

I cannot believe you are missing the dumplings in Xi'an. *salivates*

 

[munitalP]

Wow, thank you all for the replies - Mrs! pointed out that the yellow fever was on a travel brochure the doc (a medical center GP) gave us...

I will do the Hep A & B + Typhoid - I have been known to travel a little , so possible they will be valuable. I think I had a hep shot at school, I guess it wouldn't matter now

Taiwan dumplings - I have a mission to discover all Din Tai Fung restaurants, I have one further to attend to in Taipei, Mrs! thinks she's going there for the shopping , also, as much as I wanted to try and fit Xi'an in, we were going to spend too much time travelling and not enough enjoying...

Thanks again guys

Mr!

 

[auriga]

Does not sound like very good advice was given to you by your doctor.

You definitely do not need yellow fever vaccination, or malaria tablets for this trip!

Hep A, and Typhoid-- yes.