Have you had your vaccinations updated?

[Call me bubba]

here is some info that could be helpful.

regarding NOT having or finding certain medicines/shots in stock.

perhaps contact a Local University hospital .a public health clinic they maybe able to Direct you to a source,

In houston.texas Baylor,UTMB or any in the Medical district would know,

if near a Military base, call the local dispensary

Preparing for Your Trip to the Philippines

Before visiting the Philippines, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.)

To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it.

Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave,

you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

CDC recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine.

Find a travel medicine clinic near you. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are currently seeing for other medical reasons.

If your travel plans will take you to more than one country during a single trip, be sure to let your health-care provider know so that you can receive the appropriate vaccinations and information for all of your destinations.

Long-term travelers, such as those who plan to work or study abroad, may also need additional vaccinations as required by their employer or school.

Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in the Philippines, the government requires some travelers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission to present proof of yellow fever vaccination.

If you will be traveling to the Philippines from any country other than the United States, this requirement may affect you. For specific requirement details, see Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country.

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Check the links below to see which vaccinations adults and children should get.

Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all stages of life; see the childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and routine adult immunization schedule.

Routine vaccines are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Vaccine recommendations are based on the best available risk information.

Please note that the level of risk for vaccine-preventable diseases can change at any time.

Vaccination or Disease

Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Routine

Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)

Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission (see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).

Typhoid

Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Southeast Asia, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water.

Japanese encephalitis

Recommended if you plan to visit rural farming areas and under special circumstances, such as a known outbreak of Japanese encephalitis,

Rabies Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov...es.htm#vaccines

Edited July 27, 2012 by Call me Bubba

[GregZ]

Unfortunately there is no vaccination for Hep C - only Hep A and B.

New vaccine is effective against all major strains of hepatitis C

...further testing of the vaccine is required, so it may be five to seven years before it is approved.

http://www.gizmag.com/hepatitis-c-vaccine-developed/21553/

So when the US Army gave me a series of hep c shots back in 1998 what do you think it really was??? 1 shot, wait 1 month and another shot, wait 5 months and final shot. Wait 1 month and test to see if it took. I guess I was just a lab rat; sad thing is I KNEW IT. :bash: Please note that I normally write in red and it is in no way to be taken as inflammitory. :nudie:

About those other vaccines: Infections and such that these shots prevent do not show up with their own symptoms and cause of death... when you are looking for the statistics. Hep causes liver damage as an example. Cause of death liver failure from old age? :omg: JUST SAYIN! I don't go out of my way, but when I can I get these shots updated as the frequency and potential for damage is FAR less than the event of contracting one of these.

My background is that I am a pretty healthy 50 y/o that only had a FEW experiments performed on me previously. I used to skip the flu shot because it is just a virus and will run its course in an otherwise healthy human. These other things though... I'll take the shot even though I only drink purified water and take other simple precautions. If you wash your face with tap water you are exposing yourself to potential contamination through your eyes, nose and mouth. AND the water in the tap it potentially always contaminated... not just after storms, floods and eathquakes.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I got my inoculations for Hep A, Adecel booster (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis), and an oral Typhoid med. today. I was curious about what any of y'all do for malaria prevention. The malaria meds say you take them everyday that you in a risk area plus 4 weeks after (or some such thing). So are you supposed to take it the rest of your life over there? Is malaria very prevalent? I am thinking I won't bother with it but wasn't sure if that is wise. The nurse at the clinic, of course, had no opinion on the matter - since they don't sell the meds there.

[earthdome]

I had the Tdap (Tetanus,Diphtheria,Pertussis, Hep A and oral typhoid before my first visit a year ago. Plus I was given a prescription for some antibiotics to take with me just in case based on my medical history.

The CDC has a page regarding vaccinations for the Philippines which also discusses Malaria:

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/philippines.htm

[MikeB]

I did not get any vaccinations prior but am more concerned with dengue and water-borne illnesses. It's very hard to find spray-on insect repellent, all they seem to have is lotion which I don't like. I found Cutter Backwoods at Tru Value but insanely expensive at p595 for 6oz. I think I was paying about $3 in Fl. I would bring a few cans of that or Off with me, anything with DEET.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Being a strange sort, I asked my doctor (here in Philippines of course) what vaccinations I needed to be concerned with. She went over a list of things we were both sure I had been given in my early life or before my trip to come here and said I needed a booster for my Hep B (because I had left Canada without the final booster which can apparently be given years later if you missed it. Then a pneumonia shot (which I should take one more time at about age 65 and then I am good for life) and lastly a flu shot, but not to worry about the flu shot until after Christmas here in Philippines as most of the problems come about in February (she said).

[Call me bubba]

I was curious about what any of y'all do for malaria prevention.

prevention? just be safe. take the needed medications

Chloroquine is a drug that has been used extensively to prevent and treat malaria.

To treat it ,Drink TONIC WATER w/ Quinine as the article below shows

Quinine, however, has not been found to prevent malaria, just merely treat it. A normal amount of tonic water also contains too little quinine to effectively treat malaria.

Someone would need to drink at least 60 fluid ounces (1.77 liters) of tonic water a day — or the equivalent of 10 gin and tonics — to treat malaria.

Chemically produced quinine in much larger doses is the preferred treatment for reducing fever and other malarial symptoms. In most cases, malaria also needs to be treated with antibiotics to produce full recovery.

Although tonic water lacks enough quinine to reduce the symptoms of malaria in normal amount, it still is known as a tonic — meaning that it is essentially healthful — because of its use of quinine.

There is no known health benefit from consuming tonic water, which has a sugar content that is equivalent to that of most sodas. Nevertheless, the name has stuck, and the drink remains popular.

http://www.wisegeek....tonic-water.htm

[TheMason]

Vaccinations are good if you believe in them, but I believe most foreigners in the Philippines die from old age or from pissing off a Filipino.

What are the stats for the latter of those options? :thumbsup:

I didn't search for any stats, but from reading news and seeing news on TV about the death of foreigners in the Philippines for the past 6 years, most were from health problems due to old age and some were from murder. I don't remember reading about any death which was caused because someone didn't get his vaccines. If you know of any foreigner death due to lack of vaccinates please tell us.Maybe with a Goggle search you can find one or two.

I don't know. 'American murdered' or 'American Found Dead in Home' makes a better headline than 'American Dies of Hepatitis in Crappy Filipino Hospital' or 'Dengue and Typhoid Kill more Foreigners than their Spouse's Do' aint likely to make the front page either.

IMO, vaccinations are essential in the Philippines. Otherwise, you're taking a crap shoot on the medical system or looking at a massive bill to save yourself. I'd rather get vaccinated.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I was curious about what any of y'all do for malaria prevention.

prevention? just be safe. take the needed medications

Chloroquine is a drug that has been used extensively to prevent and treat malaria.

....

Chloroquine is listed on the CDC website as not advisable in the Philippines - PI malaria has gotten resistant to it. The CDC also says the PI's are a low risk area. So I will just try not to catch it :tiphat:

[Call me bubba]

IMO, vaccinations are essential in the Philippines. Otherwise, you're taking a crap shoot on the medical system or looking at a massive bill to save yourself. I'd rather get vaccinated.

Thank THE MASON for your reply

Your answer :bash: HIT IT RIGHT on the HEAD :bash:

this was the purpose of this TOPIC

was for the members( US,You,Me) to think of being pro-active in our health,