BootsnAll Travel Community

Hmm, it does seem that he's overcharging, but not by too much I guess - I just didn't expect this cost as my Rough Guide Around the World guide says they should cost $100-300 for a whole course! (um think this needs to be updated Rough Guide...). I guess if you don't get the Rabies and JE it isn't nearly as expensive, but I've already done one course of shots, and I can just see being the unlucky one who comes down with JE or is bitten by a rat or something!

I went to my county health dept, which I recommend 'cause at the very least it saves on physician fees. I don't think anyone mentioned it but there's a Hep A/B combo vaccine; I think it ends up costing the same as the separate ones but you get fewer shots, which can help when you are getting a bizilion travel shots before a trip. I wouldn't go anywhere without a tetanus booster and they're usually cheap, maybe $25 and good for 10 years. I skipped rabies and Japanese encephalitis because of the cost and because other ppl on this board skipped them, so we'll all die together I guess.

Do not blame your doc. I, too, was outraged when
my sister got her yellow fever vaccine for Africa
and she told me it was $120 or thereabouts. I
remember getting it for around $15-20 in the past.
I found out that there is only one manufacturer
for vaccines now and has a monopoly. They claim
their high charge is to cover possible litigation.

I hate government action but perhaps the government
should prevent lawsuits if the manufacturer can
show they produced the vaccine in an approved
manner in a sanitary condition, etc, and all
reactions to vaccines are caveat emptor.

My sister also was afraid because she had heard
wild stories of many serious reactions. I question
that because yellow fever vaccine has relatively fews
problems and lasts 10 years.

Here's the prices for vaccines at the tropical medicine bureau in Ireland if that's any indication. The number at the end is the number of shots required. Rabies works out €78 and Jap B €200.

Standard Vaccines - Price List
Disease Standard Vaccine Price Course

Meningococcal Meningitis ACWY Vax (Meningitis ACYW-135) €55.00 1

Hepatitis A Avaxim Hepatitis A Vaccine €47.50 2

Cholera Dukoral (Adult Oral Cholera Vaccine) €44.00 2

Influenza Flu Vaccine €15.00 1

Hepatitis B HB-VAX PRO Adult (Hepatitis B Vaccine) €32.50 3

Japanese B Encephalitis Japanese Encephalitis 1ml €50.00 4

Tuberculosis Mantoux 2TU (TB test) €25.00 1

Pneumococci Pneumococcal Vaccine €27.50 1

Rabies Rabipur 0.1ml ID €26.00 3

Tetanus Revaxis - Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio €30.00 1

Poliomyelitis Revaxis - Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio €30.00 1

Tick Borne Encephalitis Tick Borne Encephalitis FSME-Immun €60.00 3

Typhoid Typhim Vi (Typhoid Vaccine) €35.00 1

Yellow Fever Yellow Fever - Sanofi Pasteur MSD €35.00 1

In the UK we get most of them free (I say free, we pay national insurance each month which pays some towards it.)

We have to pay for Rabies and the two Encephalitis, but the rest of that big list is covered.

Or should be if you go to your own doctor. If you go to a travel clinic, you'd have to pay more.

I ended up having to visit my parents, 300 miles away, because I'd not moved doctors when I moved 3 years ago - oops!

Still it was cheaper to go back home, than pay.

The argument is that if you can afford to go travelling you can afford to pay for injections - remember governments don't actually like people leaving the country for extended times, as then they are not paying taxes.

Hi, regarding vaccinations:
I am going RTW for 2 to 3 years- I will not be in touristy areas, and will be off the beaten track
Here's what I got in the USA:
Hep A
Hep B
Tetanus
Pertussis(there have been outbreaks of whooping cough in South America and Africa of late)
Diptheria
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Polio
Here's what I plan to get while in Guatemala City: Yellow Fever
The Center for Disease Control in the US also says to get Meningitis and Typhoid and Japanese Encephalitis. However, the World Health Organization does not. The Menengitis vaccine works for only ONE form of the disease, so it's not that effective. The typhus vaccine works for some, not for others-WHO does not rec. it. As for Japanese Encephalitis, I plan on getting it along the way if I need it.
About Rabies: Yes, it's expensive! But it's a good idea if you are going somewhere where you need it, for example, working with rescued animals where you would be exposed. I will be doing this in Malaysia and I will get a rabies shot along the way.(Not all 3-just 2). I've also heard it is good to have if you are planning on going somewhere where there are alot of feral dogs- India, some of Oceania, for example.
The USA and Europe are not the only countries in the wrld will the ability to vaccinate you safely and effectively. You may be able to get things taken care of along the way. It sounds unsafe-and it can be- but there are plenty of healthcare facilities along your journey. Bring your own needles-or buy some-if it makes you more comfortable.
I also wanted to suggest that you seriously consider Hep B if you have not- and anyone else posting on this board. Your doctor may tell you that as long as you are not planning on having sex on your trip, not to get Hep B.vaccine.... However, Hep B is transmitted by blood. In fact, it was the number one communicable disease for international health workers and humanitarian workers before AIDS. If you are planning on doing any humanitarian work on your trip or if there is the possibility that you are going anywhere (including Europe) that you would need medical care/blood transfusions.
Good luck, enjoy the journey!

Wow,

All of this info is a bit overwhelming. Anyone know of a resource that lays out what is needed/required?

hey MWC,
I was re reading that post and it sort of sounds funny to me the way I ended it, like, "Go get all these shots, have a nice day."
Sorry about that.
I found all the info I needed, listed by destination, on the Center for Disease Control Website.

I should add I ended up getting the typhus vaccine, and not the rabies vaccine...
gigirtw

I got all of them.. It came out to about $2100 USD. I could have probably been more clever about it and saved a lot of money.. hmmm.. why didn't I try to be more clever?.. I think I was just excited to get one step closer to my goal.. Ah well.. I've gotten all of them but one last shot in Feb.. Then I'm blasting off!

where I got mine:

http://www.passporthealthmiami.com/


I was told that they have offices all over the US. They will try to work with your insurance, mine just happens not to cover vaccinations.

I hate vaccinations. Just got my last two today... my arms are sore.

Right now I'm only going to New Zealand, where I have just as much of a chance of catching anything than I do in the US. However, I pre-emptively checked out the shots needed for SE Asia as I might try to go there too, and this is what I found out from my experience:

Most of your routine vaccinations you probably have already. It doesn't hurt you to get more (unless they are giving us all autism) of a series than you need, but it might be worth it to call up your mom, your old pediatritian, grade school, etc. and get your vaccination records. There are some vaccines that you would have had to be up-to-date with (like MMR, tetnaus, Hep B, and polio depending on where and when you were in school) in order to be able to go to school. I took the time to hunt down my childhood vaccinations (no easy feat, I tell ya... and everyone talking to me like an idiot because I didn't know if I had gotten the Hep B series, and it turns out I got it when I was 8 or something...) and I found that I was up-to-date and/or had completed the series for most of my routine vaccinations. Plus, the student health clinic at my college recommended the meningitis vaccine, so I was good for that as well.

For the trip I only ended up getting a tetnaus booster for the pertussis, and influenza at my GP because the insurance covered it, and Hep A and typhoid at the county travel clinic. That cost me about $120 for the visit and the two shots. I figure if I know I'll be a jungle-woman in SE Asia before I go, I can get JapE before I leave NZ. Other than that, I am set for vaccines I might need in SE Asia. (I'm not big with being touchy cuddly with animals, especially strange ones, so I'm not too pressed about the rabies.)

I couldn't get a hold of all of my vaccination information so I just went to my regular doctor and had blood drawn with my yearly physical. Turns out I had most of what I already needed. All that I have left are Polio, Typhoid, and Yellow fever, all of which my kick ass health insurance will cover.

I just got my vaccinations and can't believe how much it cost!

I only needed two: yellow fever and typhoid. My shitty insurance didn't cover ANY of the expenses. I ended up with a bill for over 550 dollars!! A 130 consultation fee and over $200 each for the vaccinations. Grrrr.

I had a lot of my vaccinations from past trips but remember I called at least 3 places to price check. My insurance doesn't cover anything. I remember trying to get the tetnus shot at my regular doctor (and insurance would have covered it) but at the time there was a shortage so I didn't qualify! I had to pay for it myself at a travel clinic. The price is different in every area, I got mine in the Chicago area. If you're going to Bangkok early in your trip I'd pick them up there. They have great medical facilities available.

$56 Typhoid, oral
$89 Meningococcal
$55 MMR-II
+
$35 Office visit
$25 Injection fee (for 2 shots)

I think that doctors in the U.S. suggest everything that it spit out on their paper when they type in the countries you're going to. I was in many rural areas and never got bit by an animal. Japanese enceph. has a very slim chance and limited infected area/time.

Personally, I think typhoid, hep A/B, and tetnus are the ones most people need.

quote:

Hmm, it does seem that he's overcharging, but not by too much I guess - I just didn't expect this cost as my Rough Guide Around the World guide says they should cost $100-300 for a whole course!

Never trust the prices on those things! Plus, isn't Rough Guide based in Europe? Remember, Americans tend to pay a lot more for medicine.

I think that if you're getting them in the U.S. you can shop around. The real savings come with office visit fees... usually it's cheaper to go to a travel clinic and pay a consultation fee instead of your regular doctor who might charge $150 to talk to you. When you're asking about prices ask for the price of each shot and if there are any additional fees (consultation, office visit or injection fee).

quote:

ply

you can also get them abroad...when you arrive, unless
they're required for entry...

i got my yellow fever vaccination in bolivia prior to
going to brazil...

very cheap. if you don't mind the sketchy clinic

-s

Just for your information:

I got my vaccines yesterday.

I did a lot of wheeling and dealing and eventually found a clinic here in Texas that is part of the public health network and not my private doctor.

For $20 USD I recieved:

Hepatitis A - 1st shot out of 2 (need next in 6 months)
Hepatitis B - 1st shot out of 3 (need next in 1 month)
Measles/Mumps/Rubella - 1st shot out of 2 (need next in 1 month)
Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis - Only shot I will need


So please I urge you all to really work hard to find the best prices. Save the $2000 and you could fund many travels!

traveler dude pm me I found a place outside manhattan cheaper that I'm using

I've read the Red Cross Snake Farm in Bangkok only does typhoid, smallpox and cholera jabs (as well as treatment for rabies obviously). Can anyone confirm this? We are wondering about getting as many vax done there as possible.

I totally agree the prices were shocking when I received my bill. There is the list of my vaccines as well as cost I paid (I am in Dallas).

- Japanese Encephalitis (3 shots): $115/each (probably did need this)
- Meningococal (Menactra): $128.00
- Polio: $45.00
- Typhoid (4 oral pills): $59.00
- Yellow Fever: $95.00
- Measles, Mumps, & Rubella: $72.00
- Hep A: insurance covered
- Hep B: insurance covered
- Tetanus: insurance covered

The prices are steep but I am hoping its all worth it especially for the vaccines that were only recommended.