Vaccinations for Southern India - Where/What

brad1-8tsi on 17/12/2019 - 14:34

I'm travelling to Southern India in February. Mumbai, Kochi and parts in between for 4 weeks.

Should I use my local GP/medical centre or one of the specialist Travel Vaccination Centres in the Sydney CBD? What type of cost should I be expecting? Is there a great difference in cost between a GPs & Travel Vaccine specialist? Does either tend to over-service (generally speaking).

secondary question:
As a fit, middle aged male with no medical issues beyond mild asthma what vaccinations should I get? (I know. "what did your Dr say when you asked him")

The list is:
Hepatitus A (yes, i'll get this and a booster in july)

typhoid

Malaria (I intend to use good insect repellant)

rabies (I'm thinking No)

Thoughts

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 17/12/2019 - 14:40
    +6

    Everything you can get your hands on.

  • Skramit on 17/12/2019 - 14:42
    +7

    Malaria (I intend to use good insect repellant)

    Haha. Having worked in PNG myself, I can assure you that Mozzies don't give a stuff about repellent. Even the 50% DEET toxic stuff.

    A lifetime of malaria is not worth the risk, take the malarone and avoid it at all costs.

    • brad1-8tsi on 17/12/2019 - 17:34

      OK. Thx. I'll take your advice.
      I have a mental aversion as the malaria medicine Dad was given appears to be part of why he had a medical discharge from the navy. That was the 1940s though.

      • Skramit on 17/12/2019 - 18:28

        Malarone can have side effects but it’s only temporary and most people are fine.

        Malaria is for life and is nasty.

  • xeion on 17/12/2019 - 14:44
    +1

    General GP is fine, they will have on their system, All the recommendations for the country you are travelling to.

    I got my Hep A and Typhoid in one shot from the Chemist, think it was ~$80. I'd recommend getting the medication for Malaria (need perscription), think it's only $20 and you take it once a week.

  • GG57 on 17/12/2019 - 14:55
    +1

    Definitely the Hep A, Typhoid, and Malaria.

    Even though taking anti-malarial medication, still try to avoid mozzie bites as Dengue is similarly a risk.

    You may classify as low risk for rabies, but I had the vaccination as the post-wound treatment sounds pretty harsh. It isn't just dogs that carry rabies; monkeys can and they (and dogs) are everywhere.

  • HighAndDry on 17/12/2019 - 15:15
    +1

    Southern India? Absolutely Everything.

    If there's a vaccine for Dengue Fever, get that too.

  • oneup on 17/12/2019 - 15:19

    Apart from the ones you mentioned, I would also look to get the Cholera vaccine. It's 2 drinks, one week apart, that you mix yourself at home. You'll need a prescription and from memory it was about $50.

    • brendanm on 17/12/2019 - 19:28

      Not sure why you got negged for this?

      • brad1-8tsi on 18/12/2019 - 07:15

        I dunno either. crazy times.

  • PCHammond on 17/12/2019 - 18:01

    Are you going backpacking?
    Are you going to any farms/villages/rural areas?

    If either of those is yes, then I'd get a rabies vaccine.

    At the moment there is a flu and a dengue outbreak in India. I'd get a flu vaccine. The Dengue vaccine currently isn't available in Australia and there are some issues with it at the moment.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/12/2019 - 18:51

    Travel warning to avoid India out today.

    • brad1-8tsi on 18/12/2019 - 07:11

      Yes, the hotspots are up north.

      High degree of caution overall

  • bobkin on 17/12/2019 - 22:52

    CDC resource

  • Lunarboogie on 18/12/2019 - 17:49
    -2

    Nothing. I went to SL, Telangana and Tamil Nadu for the first time for 3 weeks in April last year and loved it. I ate street food like a visiting memsahib and walked every where. Just make sure you eat where other locals are and where the food is fast moving. It was delicious and cheap - I ate great food for under $10 per day. I had expected the worse but India has developed significantly in recent times and is more devloped than many parts of Southeast Asia where Australians tend to flock to. And no one bothered me or tried to sell me something I don't need. I am keen to go back and explore the north next time. Keep your wits about you and you'll do fine. Believe the armchair travellers on OzB and you'll turn into one.

    • bobkin on 18/12/2019 - 22:09
      +1

      This is dangerous advice. You were lucky, but you took a gamble. Travel vaccines are well worth the outlay to prevent potentially very serious illnesses. Even keeping your wits about you, a lot of things happen behind the scenes that are not in your control. Malaria prophylaxis is a very good idea as well

      • Lunarboogie on 18/12/2019 - 22:21
        -1

        Not dangerous at all. Just imparting my experience. Of the things the OP listed I tend to think none of those would be required. The biggest risk is getting a bad case of Delhi belly and there's nothing you can take that will prevent that old chestnut. Just let it pass through you and drink plenty of water. India isn't the badlands anymore. In fact, stick around another 30 years and it'll be the world's third largest economy.

        • GG57 on 19/12/2019 - 08:48

          No doubt India is developing quickly.
          That doesn't negate the fact that Malaria and Dengue are both extremely dangerous if contracted (and obviously have nothing to do with food, national wealth, standard of living, etc.).

          • Lunarboogie on 19/12/2019 - 17:24

            @GG57: Good point. But check out a map of malaria in India and you'll see it's only an issue in two states, neither of which the OP is getting remotely near. I find it funny that a mere mention of India conjures images of a malaria-ridden wasteland.

  • Some Guy on 18/12/2019 - 19:11

    I travelled there a long time ago and did the Kerala backwaters thing etc. One thing that the backpackers always chatted about was malaria and what you're taking for prevention. It was a bit like a pi$$ing contest as was the food you ate. I didn't take anything (the amount of tablets I'd have needed would have required a separate bag-wallah), but carried a sleeping net and used DEET for the first two weeks then ditched the lot. I didn't see a mossie the whole time. Bottom line is do what you are comfortable with. Medical agencies will always err on the side of caution and others will claim that in their experience there's nothing to be cautious about.

    I would look into rabies, dengue and tetnus. I recently compared a travel clinic with a GP for the Heps and the GP was cheaper but I had to order it.

  • bobkin on 18/12/2019 - 22:17
    +1

    The cheapest way of getting these medications is usually to ask the GP for scripts then to order in from a chemist of your choice. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Doxycycline is a much cheaper option for this than malarone if cost is a barrier (though obviously discuss with your doctor what they best option for you is). Please make sure you are immune to measles as well, and if not, vaccinate

  • blueyez on 02/01/2020 - 14:53
    +1

    My thoughts, based on my experience as I've travelled to India 3 times, one stint was for over 6 months.

    1. I found my local GP fine - it's your choice where to go. I don't think it costs to just ask, if you went to both?

    2. These are the shots I had, as recommended in 2016 and 2018;

    - Hepatitus A shot
    - Typhoid shot
    - Malaria tablets

    Keep in mind the vaccinations I've already had might differ to you, so best to get a blood test and discuss with your doctor what else is suitable to consider.

    Another recommendation if you're hesitant at all about costs - Australian Unity Health Cover (and other providers) pay towards Travel Vaccinations with no waiting period - might be worth paying for to get a high return i think the limit is $150 and it falls under extras cover.

    Additional recommendation is to pack some probiotics, my friends couldn't handle the street food and it helped immensely.

  • brad1-8tsi on 02/01/2020 - 21:15

    I can't edit the original post but the end result was:

    Hep A/B & Typhoid shot (3 in 1)
    Cholera (Dukoral)
    Antibiotics for malaria (there were concerns about some of the the side effects of Malarone)

    • Hybroid on 02/01/2020 - 21:21

      Hmm, that's interesting. I got given the same 3-in-1 shot but also Diptheria vaccine instead of Cholera when I visited for work (from UK). I guess Cholera was deemed lower risk as it was work booked hotels and advised to stick to sealed bottled water, no freshly washed fruit and never ever any ice.

      Also got given Malarone tablets but never really took them.

      Been there three times annually and never had an issue. Even with street food, which isn't advisable but meh, when in India!

      • brad1-8tsi on 02/01/2020 - 22:18

        I can only hope he got it right. It was the first time I've seen him and he seemed better than other GPs I've tried recently (my old GP retired). He actually listened to what I had to say…

        • Hybroid on 02/01/2020 - 22:24

          Oh, don't worry, you've got the main vaccine and it's really really not as bad as you might think it is. Avoid unknown water/ice/washed stuff as I said and you'll be fine. Do take some Imodium with you, just in case, but don't worry about the rest. So many of us have flown over and back without any issues at all.

          You'll enjoy the chaotic madness of Mumbai followed by a peaceful few days on the coast. If Kochi doesn't suit, take a cheap internal flight to Goa and stay in South Goa on the beach, it's heavenly.

          • brad1-8tsi on 02/01/2020 - 22:40

            @Hybroid: Yes we have the emergency kit already.

            I've travelled Europe inc Russia & Yugoslavia; UK; USA; Bangkok; Singapore; Bali; Solomon Islands; NZ and others - never bothered with any vaccines so this is a learning experience.

            I'm looking forward to it

  • trinkasharma on 15/03/2020 - 21:08

    Indian here.

    1-Drink packaged water.
    2-Don't eat salad or non heated foods.
    3-Use your good judgement.

    • Some Guy on 16/03/2020 - 16:37

      Mango lassi would taste like shite if heated.

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