BootsnAll Travel Community

Does anyone have experience/suggestions of what vaccinations I'll need to get for India?

Jap B - she said that some don't think it's necessary. How about you?
Cholera - ??
Dengue & Plague - she says these are playing it oversafe.
What is the most effective anti-malarial to take with the least severe side effects?

And what might you recommend as ESSENTIAL VACCINATIONS that I can get away with on short notice since I plan to leave in a couple of weeks?

Any feedback would be most helpful! Thanks..

Hi Souldoctor:

Your best advice will come from a real doctor. I can only tell you what I've taken before traveling to the subcontinent, but can't tell you if it's the best regimen for you.

My doctor recommended (and administered) the following for me:

* Hep A and Hep B
* Meningicoccol Meningitis
* Polio Booster (Only need one booster as adult if you took the full couse as a child)
* Tetnus Booster
* Typhoid

The main concern, of course, is food and water borne illnesses (Hep A and Typhoid cover those). I didn't take a cholera vaccination, but if it's available, it can't hurt.

I did not take Jap B -- my doctor indicated that it was very rare and not necessary unless spending an extended period in an endemic area. Again, follow your own doc's advice on that one. I took Malarone for Malaria and had no side effects at all.

Remember, your chance of catching one of these nasty diseases is pretty low if you follow some common sense. The vaccines are just a good insurance policy. No need to be paranoid while traveling to the developing countries. Be safe, but do enjoy yourself!