[whitestar]

Hi, Im travelling to India soon.

I am very interested in natural health and eating and  dont like putting any unwanted or potentially harmful substances into my body. I went to the nurse the other day and  they recommended me getting heb b, rabies, typhoid, one for mennigitis(another strain apart from men c) plus a few others, some of which I have to pay for. I had concerns about putting these viruses into my body already, however she reassured me that there were no side effects. However I have spent a while looking up stuff on the net, and there have been many cases of side effects arrising from certain vaccinations. Unfortunately I have already been given my first dose of hep b as they insisted I have this as a safe gard(although I don't want to get the other two- does anyone know if this is alright), and I have read it can lead to such things as ms. I really do think there is a mentality among alot of people that we need to overload ourselves with vaccines as a complete safegaurd. However I am beginning to realise that there is only real cause for concern to get them if you are going to be around certain things, or places. I am going to be travelling from delhi to chennai (along the coast through the south) from september to november, then staying in a clean residential centre in delhi for november, december with other artists. Therefore I am thinking that I will not get vaccinated to go to India, as it is not essential. (although what about typhoid?)

Also, for anti-malarials, I was recommended to take cloriquine and this other one beginning with p!!! and I have read this is pretty unnefective in India now!!(therefore I'm thinking she didn't really know her stuff) I read about this natural alternative artemisinin , which is proven to be highly effective, which  I need to find out more about, but will probably be taking.

I would appreciate any advice, I am a first time travller to a country, that you are encouraged to be vaccinated for.

Thanks

Kim

[kullukid]

Is it worth the risk? You say this will be your first visit to India, lets hope it's not your last!    KK

[priya]

[quote] I am going to be travelling from delhi to chennai (along the coast through the south) from september to november, then staying in a clean residential centre in delhi for november, december with other artists. [/quote]Happy travelling whitestar!!!!  As far as vaccines are concerned, I personally would think very seriously about having what's recommended, unless of course you want to risk your stay being spoiled by getting sick.  It's your first trip and you are just so fortunate to be spending four months in India and seeing the sights, of which there are plenty    - but, of course, if you are willing to take the chance, that's up to you.[/quote]there is only real cause for concern to get them if you are going to be around certain things, or places. [quote]

I can assure you, that whatever "certain things, or places" are, they'll be in India so, enjoy your adventure, but please take the advice given, so as not to spoil your stay.

I'm sure you'll have other questions before your adventure begins, and that's what we're here for - to help answer them.  HAPPY TRAVELLING and GOOD LUCK!!!!   

[john.sw]

Of course, it is entirely up to you whether you have any vaccinations or not.

However, my medical practitioner recommends the following:

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Polio
Diphtheria
Tetanus

I am due for a Typhoid booster which I will be having very soon, and all my other jabs are up-to-date.

Malaria tablets are not necessary in the hill stations (where I stay) as there are no mosquitoes, so I don’t bother with them.

There are risks in everything we do in life, and I consider that the risks in taking the vaccines are far less that the risks of contracting the very nasty and life-threatening illnesses from which they protect.

India is not at all like the UK, and these vaccinations are recommended for a very good reason which you may find out about the hard way if you ignore the advice of your doctor.

Good luck!  

[cyberhippie]

Johnsw advice for vaccines is spot on!!
The two vaccines you mention are not wholly necessary for travel in India, although you might want to consider the risks carefully before saying yeh or ney to the Rabies shot. There are a lot of stray dogs in India and although a rabid dog won't last long amongst the local population, there may just be a few that escape being beaten to death or shot!!
Also, should you contract Rabies, be aware that in some places in India there is a shortage of the immuglobulin needed to cleanse the wound and give you your first shot!! Having the vaccine means that this part of the rabies treatment isn't necessar, you will just need a couple of booster shots which are as I understand it readily available!!  Also the immuglobulin in India is sometimes produced from Bovine  stock not human, which can cause problems for a small number of people!

Your health worker was spot on with his/her recommendation for antimalarials. Chloroquinine on it's own is ineffective in some parts of India, hence the combination of Chloroquinine and Proagunal which is the WHO recommended antimalarial for the Sub Continent apart from Assam and the other seven sister states which Border Bangladesh/Burma where the use of Larium, Doxycycline or Malarone is recommended.

Another failsafe antimalarial, which won't burn a hole in your wallet, is Doxycycline, this also meets WHO guidelines and is available for a very cheap price in India. The only drawback to this is that for some sun sensitivity becomes an issue. One way around this was to take your daily dose at night which lessens the problems os sunburn though will not completelu negate it!!

In the end it's your choice, I hope I've given you some food for thought, which will enable you to make an educated decision!!

[digital drifter]

Look, take your vaccination shots.

While there is a lot of fakery and health scares by companies, vaccination shots are a sure thing. They will save your life.  

The science behind it is solid(even the MMR story in the UK proved to be one Doctor's seedy tactic).

I cant say anything about other meds but the shots, do get them.  Whatever your prejudices.

[bamboozle]

personally I would take the vaccines...  I have a friend who went to India about 10 years ago who ended up in the tropical deseases hospital in london... he did not take his jabs and spend a few scary weeks in hospital while his family thought they would lose him... he is totally fine and happy today but his words to me before I took my first trip to India was to get my jabs... especially thyphoid... but I think they are all 'especially'...

the other great advice he gave me was to bring a thermometer... so, if one does  fall ill (hopefully this will never happen) and are running a fever you can get help as soon as possible... I think that its important to get medical help as soon as you can if you become seriously ill to help stop it becoming worse...  thankfully we have never had anything more than some bad stomach problems but always look out for each other and look after our health to stay strong and keep our natural immune system up.  but having the jabs is a big worry off our shoulders.  (they might make you feel like crap when you get them but a huge relief when you realise how they could save your life)

and with mosquitos its best to try and not get bit... use a net, use repellant... there are some good natural ones out there, we used a 'lifesystems' one last year that was really effective... plus we use the electric unit with the little pads to keep them out of our room...
travel guides usually have some information as well and the tree is always open if you have any concerns or worries... preparing for a trip can be overwhelming so remember to be happy that you are going away...

so many things to think about but most of all think about relaxing and enjoy this awesome journey you are taking...

[Ray kelleher]

Hi whitestar..  
  
While I fully reconise your right to put into your body what you want..  
  
But you have full access to these Vacinations.. Where in India thousands of Children are dieing every day for the want of the very Vacinations that you are refusing..  
  
I hope that you have a wonderful trip and that you get through it unscaved...  
  
I would like to think that you will see the folly in what you are intending to do, and at least  get the Typhoid & the Hep jab, the Mennigitius would not go out of place either..

I have done Three different trips to India,and one to Thailand and Cambodia and have never used Anti- malarials.. But thats just because of the ineffectiveness of quite a few Anti- mallarials these days, not to mention possible side effects...

Good luck with your trip...

Ray...

[dzibead]

whitestar, on Sep 1 2006, 05:48 AM, said:

...and  dont like putting any unwanted or potentially harmful substances into my body.

It will be far worse if the "unwanted" and "harmful substances" that get into your body are the live disease organisms these vaccines are intended to combat.  Believe me, you don't want to contract typhoid, or hepatitis, or tetanus, or diphtheria, or polio, or malaria.  As others have said, it's your choice, but if you think the risks you face from the vaccines exceed the risk of contracting one of these actual diseases if you don't take appropriate prophylactic measures, you are mistaken.  

And unless you encase yourself in a plastic bubble and never venture out (and why would you go to India to do THAT?), it's impossible to avoid "certain things and places" if you are traveling in India, notwithstanding the "clean residential centre in delhi" you'll be staying in part of the time  In any event, even the "clean residential centre" may not be quite what you're used to in the UK.  

So be safe, and give serious consideration to getting the recommended shots.

[pockets]

are there any places to get these vaccinations in Delhi?

[Casey]

Having known several people with hepatitis (both types).  I think that it would be pretty risky not to get these jabs.  Your liver is really importat to your system and this is a lifelong disease that will effect you in many ways and not just medically, but emotionally.  These are diseases that you can the pass on to your partner/s.  I had to be vacinated for work, as did all my co-workers and I have never heard of adverse reactions to the vacinations.

Edited by Casey, 02 September 2006 - 05:57 PM.

[cyberhippie]

Quote

are there any places to get these vaccinations in Delhi?

Well I guess here would be a good place to start, give them a bell and see if they will do vaccinations!!


Apollo Hospital

[pockets]

cyberhippie, on Sep 3 2006, 12:05 AM, said:

Well I guess here would be a good place to start, give them a bell and see if they will do vaccinations!!
Apollo Hospital

I emailed them but did not get a response. So I am gonna push my trip back my trip till Sept 14th (I have alot of packing to still finish.....my life is going into storage). Thanks for the advice CH I will make an appointment to get my jabs here.

Edited by pockets, 06 September 2006 - 06:26 AM.

[aVERYdizzyblonde]

Im afriad I will get all vacines as I would be very sorry to get sick on this trip which I save for six years and do ont want any thing to make it spoiled.  Do you believe this is not a good thing to do and I am being foolish? I am will be traveling alone and fearful of getting to be in a hospital in a foreign country which I do not understand enogh.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

Im afriad I will get all vacines as I would be very sorry to get sick on this trip which I save for six years and do ont want any thing to make it spoiled. Do you believe this is not a good thing to do and I am being foolish?

no, I think you are being very sensible.

I had all the shots and took doxy and the only side effects I has was feeling sick the day after my typhoid shot, a very common reaction I think.

take care and enjoy your trip.

[StellaP]

cyberhippie, on Sep 1 2006, 04:35 PM, said:

Johnsw advice for vaccines is spot on!!



Another failsafe antimalarial, which won't burn a hole in your wallet, is Doxycycline, this also meets WHO guidelines and is available for a very cheap price in India. The only drawback to this is that for some sun sensitivity becomes an issue. One way around this was to take your daily dose at night which lessens the problems os sunburn though will not completelu negate it!!

Would using sun tan lotion be enough to combat the sun sensitivity caused by Dox? I've got psoriasis so am not a candidate for chloroquil/proguanil combo, but don't really want to shell out £80 for malarone or risk going nuts on larium

[cyberhippie]

I'm informed that Sun Block works well against the sun sensitivity!! So you can probably use Doxy without too much problem!!

[iwanttogoback]

I suffered no sun sensitivity at all, despite it being sunny and well into the 30's in Mumbai and ahmedabad. and I have that anglo-celtic skin that freckles and burns easily. we just made sure that we used heaps of sun screen, which is fairly standard procedure for aussies anyway.