So I had my appointment with the travel physician today. The whole ordeal has left me feeling rather under the weather.

1. Hepatitis A Vaccine (1st dose) - injection - need another in 4 weeks.
2. Hepatitis B Vaccine (1st dose) - same as number 1.
3. Influenza Vaccine (with H1N1 strain) - also an injection.
4. Tdap Vaccine - Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis - injection.
5. Typhoid Vaccine - Oral (live, attenuated virus) 4 capsules, ever other day.
6. Doxycycl HYC Tablets - As needed for the prevention of Malaria, in case we leave the city.
7. Ciprofloxacn Tablets - As needed for diarrhea (just in case).

His biggest warnings - Don't eat food from street venders or drink tap water.

During the flight we have to worry about DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis. So once ever 2 hours (minimum) we have to get up and walk on the plane.

Side note - Japanese encephalitis, the vaccine was almost 400 dollars and not covered by my insurance. So I have to keep my night-time activities to a minimum.

31 days before we leave. If I didn't feel so "punky" from the vaccines I would probably be very excited right now.

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Bloody Hell!

Sounds like you are planning to vacation in a malaria infested swamp on the planet Venus filled with alien bacteria and gob-eyed, flesh eating nematodes!

When I came to Laos, my travel medicine and vaccinations, etc. amounted to.................nothing.

Yeah, all I got was TDAP, Typhoid, and some kind of Hep, but only the first shot of three.

If you do some research you'll find you don't need the Japanese Encephalitis, or...the malaria pills really.

I've been in SE Asia almost 5 months now and no malaria. The other thing to keep in mind is that the pills don't actually prevent it completely, you can still get it, and if you do they just diminish the effects until you can get to a hospital. If you look at the side effects of the pills they can be pretty crazy depending on what kind you get (the older kind that the army used caused hallucinations and vivid nightmares).

I also eat food from street vendors. Only gotten sick once, and that was just an upset stomach.

I had an upset stomach + vomiting from eating a tuna sandwich that the teachers at a local school gave me, so really you can get sick from anything.

Westerners are kinda pussies when it comes to going abroad :/ Just think about how much all the malaria pills cost, and whether your average SE Asian local can afford them 365 days a year.

The real thing you have to worry about is dengue fever, because the mosquitoes carry that too, and there's no pills for it Better to just lather on the 30% DEET if you're worried.

You has good sense of humor Old Man.

I know they put it to me. Yet, I chose to error on the cautious side. I would rather get shots rather than get sick. I get a flu shot every year anyway. I imagine it was a bit much. I know Vientiane is safe and I don't imagine that we will be traveling much, with the wedding and reception and all, but you never know.

I like the HAZMAT suits. I bet I could really shed some pounds wearing one of those in the heat of Laos. Probably wouldn't last a hour in it to tell the truth. I once bought a tyvek suit to wear when I harvested honey one year. It was around 85 degrees F. out side and probably 105 inside the suit. My clothes were drenched when I left the bee-yard. I never used it again, I would rather get stung a few times then to suffer like that again.

Thanks for the advice (the serious and the humorous), I am grateful for your input.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 10^th Apr, 2011 at 5:53am:


Why doesn't the tap water effect other than tourist?

I think I will just stick with bottled water or BeerLao.

What the "F" - excuse my langugage but you are not going to another planet.  Who says you need to be injected with these?

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