Recent research by TNS NIPO and Gezond op reis shows that 14% of the respondents themselves (or a traveling companion) became ill during or shortly after the holiday.
Many cases of illness can be easily prevented by getting vaccinated and following a number of important tips during the holidays. Moreover, travel vaccinations are often reimbursed by health insurers.
Vacationers are at risk of contracting infectious diseases such as DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-polio) and Hepatitis A (infectious jaundice). You can get the latter by drinking contaminated water.
The fact that substantially less information is collected about health risks and/or required vaccinations to high-risk destinations is worrying. Only 36% of holidaymakers staying in Europe or around the Mediterranean make these preparations. For distant holidays, this number is 62%.
There are also quite a few misunderstandings about the costs of travel vaccinations. Many consumers do not get vaccinated because they consider vaccinations (too) expensive. This is unjustified because travel vaccinations are reimbursed by many health insurers.
Thailand vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations for Thailand. A vaccination against yellow fever is only mandatory if you come from a country where yellow fever occurs. Nevertheless, a number of preventive vaccinations are recommended. These are:
- vaccination against hepatitis A;
- vaccination against DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio).
Other vaccinations may also be recommended, for example if you are pregnant or have poor health or are going to work in Thailand. Contact your GP, GGD or a travel doctor for advice. Any additional vaccinations depend on your health situation, which areas and (large) cities you will visit and how long and where you will be staying in Thailand. These vaccinations are:
- vaccination against typhoid fever;
- vaccination against hepatitis B;
- vaccination against rabies (rabies);
- vaccination against tuberculosis (TB).
Malaria occurs in some areas of Thailand. It is not necessary to take malaria pills. However, it is important to protect yourself against mosquitoes.
There is a lot of dengue (dengue fever) in Thailand this year. There is also a small risk of infection with filariasis and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) in Thailand. In Thailand you can suffer from traveller's diarrhoea.
“There are also quite a few misunderstandings about the costs of travel vaccinations. Many consumers do not get vaccinated because they consider vaccinations (too) expensive. This is unjustified because travel vaccinations are reimbursed by many health insurers.”
Our health insurance does not reimburse these, but even then the costs are included in the total amount of the entire trip.
The reimbursements are often included in the extra supplementary package of the health insurers.
My additional insurance pays for everything if you travel to Thailand or any other country, you can also pay those few hundred euros, but you always have people who want to sit in the front row for a dime, don't complain, just travel well insured
Tip: On Thuisvaccinatie.nl you can see in two clicks which vaccinations (up to what maximum) are reimbursed. You immediately know where you stand. And they come to vaccinate at home, including evenings and weekends!