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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Are vaccinations necessary if you live in Thailand?
Dear readers,
At the time that I did not yet live in Thailand, but only came here on holiday, I faithfully started getting vaccinations. I've been living here for 4 years now and don't really pay any attention to it anymore.
What I would like to know; are there people who live in Thailand (so no holidaymakers) who keep track of this and then of course the question arises “is it necessary?”
Yours faithfully,
Dirk
I'm not a doctor and can't judge or give advice, just tell what I'm doing. And I don't do any vaccinations during my permanent residence, haven't for 13 years.
Malaria cannot be prevented with vaccinations, only the attack can be weakened. As far as I know there is no vaccine against Dengue, Filariasis and Japanese Encephalitis. Permanently 'pampering' my liver with malaria pills is not healthy, I sometimes hear, so I protect myself with other means.
Screens in particular and small night lights around the house where the wall lizards gather to feast on the mosquitoes. Avoid stagnant residual water as much as possible. In the past 13 years I have had bites from mosquitoes, but they did no more harm than from the house mosquito in the Netherlands.
There is indeed a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis, my son has been vaccinated for it like most (?) Thai children.
I also have not had a single vaccination in 15 years that I have now lived in Thailand. (Except against yellow fever because I traveled to Tanzania). I think it's not necessary.
For example, whether you had all the injections in the Netherlands at the time, your age now, where you live and your lifestyle, whether you have certain allergies or have had illnesses before, etc. People always provide too little relevant information in these matters. Malaria danger is most grossly exaggerated, but other dangers are often underestimated.
Every country has its own risks.
Earthquakes, floods, diseases, crime and you name it.
It is a personal choice how far you want to go with your own safety.
I do not do vaccinations myself.
I also can't get vaccinated against the snakes and scorpions that are here.
If there was a very specific disease locally that was very common and for which the local people get vaccinated, I would probably also get vaccinated for it.
Dirk, What is important is the hepatitis injection and DKTP if you are bitten by a dog or cat, for example. And hepatitis can be contracted in all kinds of ways, this one is also protective for quite a long time. Get one and after some time another 10 years. Do those injections you won't regret it. In DKTP is also for if you get a wound it prevents infection street dirt.
Dear Kristina,
Contrary to what your response suggests, the DKTP vaccine does not protect against rabies.
If you are bitten by a dog in Thailand, the dog should be caught if possible to see if it is infected with the rabies virus.
If this is the case, vaccination is done during the incubation period (a few weeks to many months). However, there is a risk of unpleasant side effects, so that this is usually only done once it has been established that the dog is infected, or if the dog could not be caught.
In principle, DKTP does work against tetanus (street dirt infection), but in the Netherlands a Tetanus shot is almost always given when there is a risk of street dirt infection, unless the last one was less than three years old.
I have a different experience. About 5 years ago I was bitten on the calf by a hanging dog near my office. I was wearing long pants but the wound was bleeding a little. After arriving home, I went to the hospital where - if I remember correctly - I received a program of 4 anti-rabies injections. The dog was not discussed and perhaps this female dog is still hanging around, looking for a (next) farang male.
I still have my (yellow) vaccination booklet from the Ministry of Public Health here. Most injections were made in the Netherlands and a few in Thailand, about seven years ago. When my wife went to the doctor in Siriraj hospital a few months ago, I showed him my booklet and asked if it was advisable to have me vaccinated again for some diseases. Answer: not necessary.
With my 10 years of Thailand I cannot answer the question of whether "it is necessary", but I will not be able to after 20 years.
After all, the fact that I have not contracted certain diseases does not mean that it cannot still happen.
So for the sake of caution I stick to the advice of the experts in NL and Bangkok and keep my vaccinations up to date.
I believe in better prevention than cure. I think that's wise.
Hepatitis A is good to have been vaccinated with. It can be tested whether it is necessary. (whether you are already immune or not). Hepatitis B is only necessary if you are at risk of infection. (then see it as STD prevention) (can also be tested)
Nothing else is needed in Thailand. That is the standard used in the Netherlands for Thailand.
.
Would like to go a bit further than ronald: vaccination against jaundice such as Hepatitis A is a requirement (indeed, have it tested to see whether you have had this disease before and have thus built up immunity) and highly recommended against Hepatitis B, especially with changing sex -contacts. The vaccination provides protection for about 15 years. Incidentally, relatively many Asians are infected with the Hepatitus B virus without knowing it themselves, they contracted the virus during or shortly after birth. At a later age, roughly speaking around your 30th to 35th birthday, the virus can start playing up and medication is then absolutely necessary to prevent serious risk of liver damage. Prevention is better than cure, so get your vaccinations on time, whether you stay in the Netherlands, Thailand or anywhere else.
I agree with the above answers. We have been living in Thailand for 7 years and have traveled through 18 countries with a converted UNIMOG. No problems, indeed be careful with mosquitoes (clothing and sleeping with mosquito screens). Indeed against Tetanus and nothing else. In the hospital here in Thailand they say indeed. No need for all those vaccinations. Everything (and maybe even better) is available here in Thailand. Looking back, I only see the euros I spent on all those medicines and injections as a money grab. Greetings. see our site: trotermoggy
Every year I faithfully get an anti-flu injection!
The last 2 weeks ago !
At least I have a feeling I won't get the flu.
Gerrit
Vaccinations required in Thailand:
Dear Ellis; I myself have not yet had any experience with "converted UNIMOGs". How can I get there! Do they also walk in the 'Walking-street'?. And how are they recognizable?
Gr;Willem Schevenin…
Dear All,
I've been making sure for years that my next shots are in order, tetanus, all hepatitis shots, by now I'm protected for life and very important; typhoid fever, protects you against the effects of dirty water or fruit that has been cleaned by dirty hands. (faeces of humans and animals)
1 year I let my typhoid vaccination expire, I thought it was still okay and I definitely got "Infectious gastroenteritis" with complications (due to circumstances that are not really relevant here), that took me 5 days = 4 nights hospitalization cost, at first I thought; ” a bit of diarrhea due to the difference in climate, so I waited too long to go to the doctor, who sent me to the Bangkok Hospital on Phuket, of course with a yellow booklet and that doctor saw the vaccinations against typhoid fever, and he recommends that vaccination to all travelers who go outside the tourist areas and tetanus is also a fairly important shot, for example if you go down well with the motorcycle and your skin is half off.
But no anti malaria, no need for anything (note my personal opinion)
You cannot overprotect and/or insure yourself.
Yours faithfully,
Lex K.
In 40 yrs Thailand never did and still alive. Also no diseases or the like. Only when I was still a seafarer did I get compulsory vaccinations before signing on, but never failed to do so in Thailand. Don't see the need for it.