What Vaccination for India

rfowler

Am going to India very soon and need to get my Vaccination.

Does anyone know which ones I need and also where I can get them done from

My GP are too busy and have no appointments

Caz3121

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/travel/203535.html

maybe have a search for travel clinic yourtown and see what options there are - not sure whether they would be done by your GP or by the nurse normally.
As it says ideally this should be done 6-8 weeks before going so if you are going sooner than that you may have to get the fast-track regime

Doshwaster

It really depends on which region you are visiting and what you are going to do. Volunteering in the slums or hiking in the rainforests are clearly more dangerous than stopping in 5* hotels.

I found my local GP to be useless at travel advice (My GP said "I suppose you should have everything just to be on the safe side" then asked me "Is Bangalore in Bangladesh?") so I then went to my local MASTA travel clinic (http://www.masta-travel-health.com/) and they were fantastic.

Bob_the_Saver

I second what Doshwasher wrote but even if nothing else (which is what many people do) take malaria tablets. Mrs. B T S had malaria from India, trust me it is best avoided (slight understatement there!!)

Doshwaster

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

I second what Doshwasher wrote but even if nothing else (which is what many people do) take malaria tablets. Mrs. B T S had malaria from India, trust me it is best avoided (slight understatement there!!)

The malaria risk does vary between region and season so it's best to take proper advice. The most essential thing to take is a pack of Imodium (or similar) in case you get a dose of Delhi Belly (or Bombay Bum). No matter how careful you are with the water it's still quite easy to pick something up.

claire16c

I went to a Masta clinic for a Rabies jab as it was closer to my work.

The rest I got from my GP though as they were free. Some pratices charge you though so it wont make any difference.

I needed about 8 jabs and there would have been about another 3 for India , but we ended up not going there in the end. So yeah youll need a few

So if there is anyway you can get into your GPs I would keep trying for a cancelled appt.

Voyager2002

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

I second what Doshwasher wrote but even if nothing else (which is what many people do) take malaria tablets. Mrs. B T S had malaria from India, trust me it is best avoided (slight understatement there!!)

Actually, I understand that the advice has changed and for some parts of India malaria may no longer be a hazard. I second the advice to consult an expert: malaria can kill very quickly, and if you do need the pills it is vital that you take the correct sort for the particular kind of malaria to which you might be exposed.

Voyager2002

Doshwaster wrote: »

The malaria risk does vary between region and season so it's best to take proper advice. The most essential thing to take is a pack of Imodium (or similar) in case you get a dose of Delhi Belly (or Bombay Bum). No matter how careful you are with the water it's still quite easy to pick something up.

I disagree about the Imodium: this kind of drug is useful if you have to take a bus ride or something, but it just 'freezes' the problem rather than doing anything to cure it, and unless it is either treated or gets better (as the bacteria responsible get flushed out) within a reasonable time, it can get a lot worse.

Bob_the_Saver

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I disagree about the Imodium: this kind of drug is useful if you have to take a bus ride or something, but it just 'freezes' the problem rather than doing anything to cure it, and unless it is either treated or gets better (as the bacteria responsible get flushed out) within a reasonable time, it can get a lot worse.

Generic 'Imodium' is a bl00dy site cheaper in India than the UK.

Bob_the_Saver

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I disagree about the Imodium: this kind of drug is useful if you have to take a bus ride or something, but it just 'freezes' the problem rather than doing anything to cure it, and unless it is either treated or gets better (as the bacteria responsible get flushed out) within a reasonable time, it can get a lot worse.

Generic 'Imodium' is a LOT cheaper in India than the UK.

Doshwaster

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Generic 'Imodium' is a LOT cheaper in India than the UK.

Almost everything is cheaper in India than the UK but it's still wise to take some antidiarrhoeals (even if it's a cheap Tesco generic) with you in case you need them in an emergency.

And, while I agree that when you have Delhi Belly, it's usually a case of "better out than in" there are still times when you need to put a cork in it. I once flew back from Mumbai and spent about 75% of the flight in the toilet (just as well I had a aisle seat). That wasn't pleasant.