Question about shots

[mstevens]

Only because those are good ideas in the states too, as are many other periodic vaccinations.

Correct. Everyone who travels anywhere should have those vaccinations.

Typhoid and Malaria for Coz? Can you provide a link to where you got that?

For the basics, check out Health Information for Mexico | CDC Travelers' Health.

Typhoid Fever is fairly nasty and the immunization works well. The shot is quick and cheap, and typhoid is neither.

I am one of the few who bothers with Malaria prophylactic going inland on the peninsula to visit ruins, but never Typhoid, nor Malaria just for Coz.

I don't personally do malaria prophylaxis on the island other than using mosquito repellent and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, although that does officially count as "malaria prophylaxis."

Ounce of prevention > pound of cure.

 

[DandyDon]

Correct. Everyone who travels anywhere should have those vaccinations.

Travels? I could get Hep A in my local cafe, and I luckily survived my swinging singles years without getting Hep B but it travels locally as an STD, does it not? Texas school kids are now required to get both vaccinations, but many adults have had neither.

For the basics, check out Health Information for Mexico | CDC Travelers' Health.

Typhoid Fever is fairly nasty and the immunization works well. The shot is quick and cheap, and typhoid is neither.

Okay, I called: Not available at my local health department; only one clinic in Lubbock carries the vaccines, which cost $65 or $72 depending on choice, and from other internet reading - with a 50-80% effective rate. With 400 cases a year in the US, I think I will skip that one and continue to avoid street food vendors.

I don't personally do malaria prophylaxis on the island other than using mosquito repellent and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, although that does officially count as "malaria prophylaxis."

Ounce of prevention > pound of cure.

Yeah, I have only done the chloroquine while going to ruins and cenotes on the peninsula and I may be overdoing that - from your link....

Areas of Mexico with Malaria: Limited to areas infrequently visited by travelers, including small foci along the Guatemala and Belize borders in the state of Quintana Roo and small foci along the Guatemala border in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco; rural areas in the states of Nayarit, Oaxaca, and Sinaloa; and in an area between 24°N and 28°N latitude, and 106°W and 110°W longitude, which lies in parts of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango. No malaria along the United States-Mexico border and in the major resorts along the Pacific and Gulf coasts.

I will continue to take the pills for Belize, Roatan, and other locations suggested by CDC.

 

[mstevens]

Don, the question as I understand it was about which immunizations were recommended for travel to Cozumel and in particular what the CDCP recommendations were. I answered that question. The comments that these recommendations apply equally well to trael to any destination were a) true and b) intended to point out that there aren't any particular or noteworthy health risks associated with travel to Cozumel.

I really don't think anyone is particularly likely to get sick in Cozumel, but that's my personal opinion. Travel medicine recommendations aren't made based on personal opinions but rather on epidemiology as well as on public health concerns.

It doesn't matter at all if there are 400 cases of typhoid per year in the US. We're not talking about the risk of contracting typhoid in the US, are we? One of the reasons the US has a very low typhoid rate is that military personnel have been immunized for many years and travelers have been encouraged to be immunized. Another reason, of course, is public health measures such as chlorination of water supplies. Typhoid fever is caused by a Salmonella bacterium that's transmitted as easily as any other Salmonella species and by much the same means. Surely you've heard of Salmonella? There are over half a million deaths per year due to typhoid out of roughly 15-30 million cases and about 1 in 20 of those infected become carriers, which means over 3/4 million completely preventable Typhoid Marys walking around. I think having the immunization if one travels to areas where it's recommended by the CDC is prudent and appropriate (I had it as a military dependent because we were moving to France) and is way cheaper than hospitalization with multi-drug resistant typhoid.

As far as hepatitides go, are you arguing that because one can contract it in Lubbock one shouldn't have the immunization before traveling to Mexico? That wouldn't appear to make any sense. If the original poster had asked what immunizations he should have while staying at home I would have answered that question, but that doesn't appear to be what he asked.

 

[DandyDon]

I am sorry for confusing things here, and I do appreciate your counsel here as well. The 400 cases a year are mostly from travelers returning from abroad but I compared that to the thousands who travel to endemic areas, plus the estimates of 50-80% effectiveness of the vaccines and shrugged them off. However, I suppose it is a one time shot (I forgot to ask?) for years of travel protection so perhaps a good idea indeed. I'm not often in Lubbock during business hours but will be this week babysitting while my daughter has her gall bladder removed & recovers (thank gawd that is so much easier than when I had it in the 70s) so maybe I will drop by and get it. Would you suggest the shot or oral?

As far as hepatitides go, are you arguing that because one can contract it in Lubbock one shouldn't have the immunization before traveling to Mexico? That wouldn't appear to make any sense. If the original poster had asked what immunizations he should have while staying at home I would have answered that question, but that doesn't appear to be what he asked.

No, no, no, my apologies again. :blush: I meant to suggest that ever American should get Hep A & B vaccines just for life in America much less for international travel even tho most adults probly haven't.

 

[mstevens]

50-80% effectiveness doesn't sound like all that much (if you had an equal chance of being crushed by a falling meteorite outdoors, you'd never go outside). For a vaccine that's not bad and means far fewer cases per year if more people were immunized.

We did have our son get it since we travel to Mexico a couple of times per year. He'll be due for a booster soon. My booster is out-of-date, as is my wife's. We intend to get it before we head out in February, but you know how intentions go.

Officially there isn't a difference in efficacy between oral and intramuscular, but my guess is the shot is easier to find. As usual, the oral is a live attenuated virus while the intramuscular is a subunit vaccine. The oral requires a booster every 5 years and the IM every 2 years. The shot is a one-time deal but the oral is 4 doses 2 days apart.

 

[DandyDon]

Officially there isn't a difference in efficacy between oral and intramuscular, but my guess is the shot is easier to find. As usual, the oral is a live attenuated virus while the intramuscular is a subunit vaccine. The oral requires a booster every 5 years and the IM every 2 years. The shot is a one-time deal but the oral is 4 doses 2 days apart.

They had both in stock, but if the oral is good for 5 years, I'll go for that. I can have my email service remind me when to take the pills like I do when I take the weekly malaria prevention meds. TY!

 

[steelsaint]

Just got back from Medical Travel clinic, these are the following shots they recommended for traveling to Cozumel: Typhoid, Hep B, Hep A, Tetanus( if you haven't had it in 5 years), Malaria,
5 boxes of Imodium, and the antibiotic for Vibramycin to treat Malaria. He also recommended using Bug spray with deet 50% or higher. Seems like a lot (especially the Imodium), but better safe than sorry.

 

[DandyDon]

Just got back from Medical Travel clinic, these are the following shots they recommended for traveling to Cozumel: Typhoid, Hep B, Hep A, Tetanus( if you haven't had it in 5 years), Malaria,
5 boxes of Imodium, and the antibiotic for Vibramycin to treat Malaria. He also recommended using Bug spray with deet 50% or higher. Seems like a lot (especially the Imodium), but better safe than sorry.

Oh My Goodness...?!

Sounds like a plan for Panama swamp explorations. By all means, work with your professional doctor, but I got to say - no one does all that for Cozumel...!

Typhoid: 400 cases a year in the US, mostly from returning travelers to endemic areas. Not a bad idea, but not really done much for Coz. See above discussion.

Hep B, Hep A, Tetanus( if you haven't had it in 5 years): Those are good ideas in the US, therefore sure - altho most adults haven't done the Hep shots. Kids are now required to have those.

Malaria: I have been taking chloroquine for trips into the mainland jungle ruins, but if you check the CDC, it's really indicated only for areas far from those. I won't agrain for the Yucatan.

5 boxes of Imodium: If you're going to eat from street vendors maybe, but nah.

and the antibiotic for Vibramycin to treat Malaria: Uh, if anyone gets Malaria, that med is available. You won't but if you did, get it then.

He also recommended using Bug spray with deet 50% or higher: Ok, cool - but I don't for town. If you stayed in a southside resort maybe, or toured the island. Don't go to the island ruins or jungle without, no.​

Are you sure you told him Cozumel, not just Mexico...?

 

[kjvander]

That list sounds about as extensive as the list that I had for when I went to Nigeria awhile ago. I think that Nigeria had a few more....I was getting poked for like 2 weeks straight to get all the shots in.

 

[Christi]

Only because those are good ideas in the states too, as are many other periodic vaccinations. Coz just doesn't have much risk, but don't touch the stray dogs or pet raccoons.

Typhoid and Malaria for Coz? Can you provide a link to where you got that? I am one of the few who bothers with Malaria prophylactic going inland on the peninsula to visit ruins, but never Typhoid, nor Malaria just for Coz.

Malaria is not a problem here and prior to moving here, I went to the CDC and got all recommended vaccinations. Malaria meds were recommended only if I traveled deeper into Central America (Belize and south).

However, I did get all others that MStevens recommended because I was moving here.

Don, Typhoid fever is not an epidemic here by any means, but it is more common than you probably think, even in the states - so it never hurts to take precautions against it, including vaccination.

Remember, the Hep shots are a series of two or three - with three or four weeks between shots, mstevens can verify/clarify the time frames, etc.

With all of that said, this isn't as primitive of a place as some people who've never been here may imagine - so if you don't get all of theses shots, I wouldn't be overly concerned. I know that the MAJORITY of people who travel here don't get them.