vaccinations

wondering what types of vaccinations people are getting prior to departure. I was advised I should get malaria, typhoid, and hepatitus shots. also polio and tetanus booster.

[Dolores]

The Center for Disease Control of the US does not recommend any of these innoculations unless you will be traveling to the Haiti frontier area. This is unlikely if you will be visiting a resort. A tetanus booster is routinely recommended in the US every 10 years. For more information, check the cdc.gov site and there is information you may find helpful on the dr1 health page.

My husband and I got our booster shots for polio, tetanus, diptheria as we knew it had been at least 10 years since we had it. It is good to have and at least you'll be immunized if you happen to cut your foot on a rusty nail or piece of metal, cut yourself with dirty broken glass, etc.

Usual advice: tetanus (if your own is old), diphteria and Hep. A. The latter because hepatitis A spreads easily through food and water, no bodily contact necessary. But ask your own doctor.

Malaria: Not unless you are going to stay overnight in Haiti, by the Haitian border or in certain rural areas in the DR.

Typhoid: Not necessary for those travelling only to the DR.

Regards,
Susanne

I have had shots for Hep. A and tetanus. My doctor also gave me malaria pills to take prior, during and after my trip. If you have a sensitive stomach, I suggest diarrea pills too. They come in handy when you least expect it. Note that I didn't stay in an all-inclusive resort but stayed with family members in Fantino and San Pedro de Macoris.

Have a nice trip.

Katia

Sounds like your doctor has a car payment due on the Rolls. LOL

the polio shot we had back in the fifties,i'm sure we were told that they were good for life,right or wrong...

RIGHT........

what about if you are moving to the DR and living in one of the bigger cities, not just a resort. I got the Tetnus already, but do I need the Hep A, B and Polio booster?

Polio, if you received INJECTIONS, you don't need additional booster. Hep A is always recommended and I have no reason to discourage it. On the other hand, pre-exposure vaccine prophylaxis for Hep B is advised for selected individuals at increased risk of contacting hepatitis B; eg, patients and staff in hemodialysis units, medical and other health care personnel exposed to blood, dentists and dental hygienists, residents and staff of institutions for the mentally retarded and homosexuals.
While on the subject, let me make you aware of something that is done in the DR the reason of which is known only to God and the prescribing physician! If injured (cut or puncture wound)you will be given a prescription to immediately buy Hyperimmune globulin for injection,as a tetanus preventative. It DOES prevent tetanus but is SUPPOSED to be used in individuals who have never been immunized previously. It is prepared from teh plasma of individuals who have high titers of antibody against a specific organism or antigen. The treating physician NEVER asks if you have ever been immunized previously, he either assumes you have not or he thinks that is the ONLY preventative. It is quite costly (approximately $300.00 Pesos) as opposed to the TETANUS TOXOID ($30-$40 Pesos). I don't know what the actual immunization statistics are for the DR but I do know that the vast majority 95%+ of North Americans and Europeans have had preventative immunizations. You must make the treating physician aware of this.