Jabs for Thais

Post by **NikkiSixx** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:02 pm

Would it all be wise to have my Thai missus to be all jabbed up in preparation for our imminent relocation to HH considering she has lived there nearly all of her life up until 2004 or am I being unneccessarily cautious?

Post by **hollygolightly1** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:34 pm

If I were your missus, I would run like the wind!

Only joking, I hate needles! Seriously though, I haven't had any jabs and the people I know who live here haven't either. I think the main health risks (STDs excepted) probably come from drinking dodgy water and if you take the usual precautions I can't see why you'd contract anything. I think there is a requirement to have had jabs if you come from a yellow fever area but apart from that...

Post by **DawnHRD** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:51 pm

I don't mean to be nosey, but is there a reason why you want her stuck full of needles, but not you?

I'm just wondering why this isn't a partnership thing

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:13 am

To the OP,
I think you're being too cautious.
Malaria - well, that's not a jab, AFAIK, and the nasty parasite does tend to get about a bit, so local knowledge is maybe better than preventative tablets that can have bad side effects anyway.
Cholera - ineffective.
Typhoid - as above, you've gotta be drinking out of drains here to get that.
Hep A - I'm immune as I caught it in India 25 years ago, but check. Other Heps, I don't know about.
Tetanus - last time I was there, St. Thomas' hospital in London advised me against it as they reckoned I'd been jabbed up enough for three lifetimes before. Too much is not good - check.
That's about it really. I'm no doctor, but I'd reckon I'm not too far off there and as your wife has been living in HH pretty much all her life, I reckon her immunity to certain nasties is still alive and kicking.

Post by **Rob c** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:28 am

My Mrs was advised to have some jabs before we came back to los this year. Your imune system starts to drop after 18 months we were told. Can't remember what they all were, one was tetanus mixed with diphtheria. However all the jabs were free, so I don't see the point in not having them really. Better to be safe than sorry I reckon.

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:28 am

Rabies is endemic throughout Thailand and I would always go for the rabies jab. The pre-exposure jabs (three little ones) are far more preferable to the post exposure course that I had (2 big ones and 7 little ones). You also limit the anxiety after a dog or cat bite because if you go too late for your post exposure jabs and develop rabies nobody can help you - you are doomed to a prolonged and excruciatingly painful death.

Post by **Big Boy** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:31 am

I always get my wife immunised before we return to Thailand. The majority are free, but we did have to pay a considerable amount for Rabies and Japanese Enciphilitis - albeit, you can't put a price on good health. I always work on the asumption that its always better to be safe than sorry.

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:42 am

Over here in backward Wales they were free!

As you say though, I would pay if necessary.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:48 am

Sure, forgot about rabies and that Jap thing.

Post by **Big Boy** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:54 am

Jaime wrote:

Over here in backward Wales they were free!

I had to pay over 600 pounds for Rabies and Japanese Enciphilitis injections. Even for the free injections I have to obtain a report from MASTA in the first instance, which has to be paid for.

I've heard of this post code pharmacy thing between England & Wales before with people crossing the border into Wales to gain cheaper prescriptions.

Still, I suppose its a matter of personal choice regarding where you live - I certainly wouldn't consider a move to Wales for a free injection.

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:05 am

And you'd have to give me an injection to get me over the bridge!

Post by **NikkiSixx** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:44 am

I don't mean to be nosey, but is there a reason why you want her stuck full of needles, but not you? I'm just wondering why this isn't a partnership thing
_________________
I did mean me aswell!

but particularly her as I didn't know if it would make any difference...her being Thai an' all...may have more tolerance...I don't know, I'm not a doctor!!

Post by **Wanderlust** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:28 am

Big Boy wrote:I always get my wife immunised before we return to Thailand. The majority are free, but we did have to pay a considerable amount for Rabies and Japanese Enciphilitis - albeit, you can't put a price on good health. I always work on the asumption that its always better to be safe than sorry.

When I came here in 1998 I was told that the Japanese Encephilitis jab was almost as bad as having the actual disease! Hence I didn't have it, but what were the side affects like for your wife Big Boy? Also I was told that rabies was not a major problem in Thailand; has that situation changed? Jaime, were you bitten in Thailand to need your after bite jabs?
One other thing I might mention is that anyone coming here could have some of their jabs done here as soon as they arrive, where it is likely to be cheaper I woulkd have thought - I certainly had my 'booster' jab for Hep A/B done here.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:01 am

Wanderlust,
They push the rabies jabs on you if you are bitten by any mammal, whether there is a risk or not. I recently took my little boy for them, as he was bitten by a monkey on Monkey Mountain. However, all of us at HHDRC have been bitten by dogs (usually while breaking up fights). If you go for treatment, they insist on the jabs, even if you know the dog was vaccinated. If I know the dog's history, I refuse (2,500 baht every time you're bitten is a lot

), but they make it very difficult for you to say no.
Personally, I don't think the pre-rabies jab is necessary unless you're working with animals. You can get the jabs after, if you're unlucky enough to get bitten. And the jab is only valid for a set amount of time, so you need to repeat it.

Post by **Big Boy** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:32 pm

Firstly guys, I have mentioned getting my wife immunised in line with the OP, obviously my son and are fully immunised also.

Wanderlust, the only side effect of Japanese Enciphilitis was that my wife and son had a sore arm for a couple of days - nothing else. Both the Japanese Enciphilitis and Rabies were insisted on by my GP when he knew we were going to be staying in Ban Nong Seng (30 miles from Karasin) for about a week in 2003. Because of the cost, I insisted on a second opinion. Not only did I get a second opinion, but they actually produced a World Health Organisation report stating the need.

I had stayed there many times before, with no ill effect other than boredom. Its a pity they can't find a vaccine against the swarming heard of blood nut chewing grannies that pick you out and insist on putting their lips to yours ................................. Ughh