Do you get shots for travel?

[Doc Harry]

I always get all of the recommended immunizations including Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid and Tetanus.

Prophylaxis against malaria.

Pepto-Bismol prophylaxis against traveler's diarrhea. Beware, Pepto-Bismol will give you black stools and constipation.

Prescriptions such as Cipro, Lomotil (for diarrhea), Phenergan (for nausea/vomiting).

Get a prescription for some sterile 18 gauge IV needles and take them with you. If you need to get an IV at a local facility, have them use your sterile needle. A prescription is necessary because the needles might confiscated without the prescription.

 

[rexman24]

I have not gotten shots, but it would depend alot on where Im going.
In some cases, Malaria is confined to very remote areas of a country(where most tourists are not likely to go) and the Malaria meds have more potential to have bad side effects then the miniscule chance you might get it.
In alot of cases I think just good anti-mozzie measures are the best bet.

 

[jefffalcone]

Anywhere in Central America or Mexico you'd be wise to use a malaria prof. Places like Belize or Honduras would also call for rabies and tetenus. Another BIG problem in Honduras is dengue fever. Don't know if there's a vaccine for it but it can be cured. Anywhere in Africa or the Middle or Far East would include a Yellow Fever vac. South Seas islands? All of the above. And a butt full of gammagobulin wouldn't be a bad idea either. Hell, we've got cases of plague here in the US brought over from Mexico.

You would be the first person I've ever heard of taking anti-malaria meds for a trip to mexico.

 

[rexman24]

You would be the first person I've ever heard of taking anti-malaria meds for a trip to mexico.

This is the kind of thing I was talking about. Using Costa Rica for an example, does it still have Malaria, yes-maybe 3-5 cases a year and for the most part it is locals that get it that live in very remote areas in the south and mountains.

So your chances of getting it as a visitor that will go to more or less populated areas are 0 to .0000000001 %.

Even so there are still travellers that take anti-malarials and suffer through the side effects and expenses uneccesarily in my mind.