Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – what and when should I get vaccinated?

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Vaccinations before traveling to Asia is a topic that should be addressed at least 3 months before the planned trip. The type of vaccine recommended depends on the region where we plan to spend time, but also on the type of trip planned. What vaccinations should I take before going to Asia? What are the costs of obligatory and recommended vaccinations?

Diseases from which you can get sick in Asia

Asia is the largest continent in the world, therefore vaccination planning depends on the region where we intend to spend time. The regions where you can plan your trip are East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, North and Central Asia, and the Middle East. Sanitary and epidemiological recommendations depend on the planned duration of stay and the country of destination.

1. East Asia – Food and Waterborne Diseases are the main threat in Asian countries. It is associated with infections with E.coli bacteria, salmonella, cholera, parasites, typhoid and viral hepatitis. In some parts of China, however, you can still get malaria. Insects that live on the Asian continent can cause dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, Japanese encephalitis, and plague.
2. Southeast Asia – here, too, the greatest threat are diseases transmitted through food and water. Malaria can be contracted all over Southeast Asia. On the other hand, insects can cause dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, Japanese encephalitis and plague.
3. South-West Asia – only Israel does not have any sanitary and epidemiological recommendations. There is a low risk of malaria in the areas of Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Insects transmit diseases such as dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocercosis and plague.
4. Central Asia – The risk of contracting malaria occurs in some rural areas of the Indian subcontinent. Small outbreaks of malaria occur in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. There are endemic plague outbreaks in India and Kazakhstan. Insects transmit diseases similar to those in the rest of the continent.

You can read more about tropical diseases here: Killer viruses from the tropics

What kind of doctor should I consult before going to Asia?

Before traveling to Asia, it is worth visiting a doctor who specializes in travel medicine. The doctor will provide information about the current health situation in this region of the world, as well as provide detailed information on vaccinations recommended before traveling to Asia. In addition, the travel medicine doctor will show you how to prevent malaria and will present the most important rules of prevention and the equipment of the travel medicine cabinet. You should visit the travel medicine doctor at least 6-8 weeks before the planned departure.

Before going to the doctor’s office, it is worth preparing information about the itinerary and medical documentation regarding your current health condition. Anyone planning a trip to Asia may be advised by a travel medicine doctor to take out additional health insurance. You may find it useful: insurance of the costs of treatment, rescue or medical transport to the country.

What should I know about travel vaccinations? Check: Vaccinations before the trip – when and for what do you need to get vaccinated?

When should I start vaccinations before traveling to Asia?

Vaccination before traveling to Asia should not be postponed until the last minute. It is important to think about vaccinations a few months before the planned departure. Some vaccines are administered at intervals, e.g. in the 0/1/6 cycle, which means that the last dose is administered six months after the first dose.

Of course, if you don’t have all the doses of a given vaccine in time, there’s probably nothing to worry about. Even the first doses of the vaccine shape immunity, the last one is usually to maintain this immunity for years to come. Therefore, the optimal date for vaccinations before traveling to Asia is 3 months before departure. Properly performed and repeated vaccinations protect against tropical diseases for several years. At the first vaccination, patients receive a special yellow booklet, which helps in keeping to the dates of all vaccinations.

Read about other diseases from the Asian continent: These diseases only occur in one place in the world

Where can I get vaccinations before traveling to Asia?

Vaccinations against tropical viruses that can be infected in Asia are performed in numerous centers throughout the country. A referral from a primary care physician is not required to administer the vaccine. Unfortunately, vaccinations for exotic diseases are paid, so you have to be prepared for a fairly large expense.

Before you go for a vaccination, check that all the vaccinations that you plan to receive are performed by the medical facility in question. In some places there is a temporary lack of some preparations.

Mandatory and recommended vaccinations before traveling to Asia

The most important information for travelers is that there are no compulsory vaccinations that must be done before staying in Asia. The exception is Saudi Arabia, where the compulsory vaccination is the meningococcal vaccine.

If vaccination is compulsory, it means that you must have a certificate confirming the vaccination you received. Without this document, the traveler may not enter the visited country. Despite the fact that there is no obligation to vaccinate against specific infectious diseases, specialists recommend that certain vaccines be made. The recommended vaccines include:

1. a vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough;
2. hepatitis A vaccine;
3. hepatitis B vaccine;
4. typhoid vaccine;
5. cholera vaccine;
6. polio vaccine;
7. vaccine against meningococcal infections;
8. yellow fever vaccine;
9. rabies vaccine;
10. Japanese encephalitis vaccine;
11. tick-borne encephalitis vaccine.

What should I know about immunization? Check: Vaccinations – facts and myths

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – typhoid fever

Typhoid fever, formerly known as typhus, is a severe systemic bacterial disease. The disease is spread through the alimentary tract through food or water contaminated with the excretions of sick people or carriers. Typhoid fever is associated with high fever and a poor general condition. The symptoms of this disease affect many organs. There may be diarrhea, enlarged liver and spleen, dry cough, and disturbed consciousness.

The typhoid vaccine is highly recommended before going to Asia. This well-tolerated vaccine contains purified bacterial capsular polysaccharide. Typhoid vaccine is given as a single dose intramuscularly 2-3 weeks before the planned trip to Asia. The vaccine cannot be given to children under the age of two. Revaccination is performed every 2 years.

The effectiveness of the vaccine is moderate. It is estimated to be effective in 50-80% of cases. Typhoid vaccine can be given by injection or in tablets by mouth. The injected vaccine costs about PLN 240, while the cost of the vaccine in tablets is about PLN 220.

Typhoid vaccination should be done before traveling to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Cambodia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistau, Thailand, East Timor, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates.

Would you like to know more about typhoid fever? Check: Typhoid – symptoms, vaccination

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – meningococcal disease

Meningococci are intracellular bacteria that cause serious meningococcal disease, including meningitis and sepsis. Vaccination against meningococcus in Poland is one of the recommended but not obligatory vaccinations. However, if you plan to travel to Saudi Arabia, you must have a quadrivalent vaccine against meningococcal meningitis.

The main components of the vaccine are oligosaccharides of the meningococcal cell membrane. The vaccine cannot be given to children under 12 months of age. Some meningococcal vaccines also cannot be given to children under 11 years of age. Vaccination should be done one month before going to Asia. The vaccine is given in one dose. Revaccination should be performed every 5 years.

The effectiveness of the meningococcal vaccine is high. It is estimated to be effective in 80-92% of cases. A vaccine against meningococcal infections should be paid around PLN 230.

You can find more information about the meningococcal vaccine here: Meningococcal vaccine – dates, complications and price of vaccinations

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family, which is carried by wading birds in wetlands and pigs in rural areas. The mosquitoes of the genus Culex and Aedes are responsible for the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization informs that each year there are about 68 cases, including several thousand deaths.

The virus incubation period is 6 to 16 days. In 99% of cases, the infection is asymptomatic or resembles mild flu. However, in about 1% of cases the disease becomes severe and causes meningitis, meningeal symptoms, impaired consciousness and paresis. Complications after Japanese encephalitis include ataxia, parkinsonism, muscle weakness and mental disorders.

The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is especially recommended for those who plan to stay in rural areas, near rice fields in the late summer and fall months. Unfortunately, the availability of this vaccine in Poland is limited, so you should carefully check in which medical facility it is performed. The primary component of the vaccine is a dead virus. Hypersensitivity to protamine sulphate is a contraindication to its implementation.

The vaccine is given in two doses, 7-28 days apart. The second dose should be taken at least 7 days before departure. Revaccination should be performed after approx. One year. The effectiveness of the vaccine is very high and its durability is estimated at approx. 2 years.

Vaccination for Japanese encephalitis should be done by people who plan to travel to: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Brunei, China, Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal , Pakistan, Our Country, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam. One dose of the vaccine costs about PLN 440. Therefore, for 3 doses included in the vaccination cycle, you should pay about PLN 1320.

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – diphtheria, tetanus

When planning a trip to Asia, remember to get a diphtheria and tetanus booster every 10 years. Vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus in Poland belong to the list of compulsory vaccinations. Therefore, before making a decision about vaccination, it is worth looking at your vaccination record and checking when the last vaccination was performed.

The composition of the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine includes diphtheria toxoid, which is administered in vaccines together with tetanus toxoid. If a person going to Asia has never been vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus, they must have 3 doses of the vaccine. The second dose of vaccine is injected one month after the first and the last dose six months later. The effectiveness of this vaccine is very high and its durability is estimated at 10 years.

This vaccine is recommended for travelers to any of the regions of Asia. One dose of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine costs about PLN 80, which means that the full vaccination course costs PLN 240.

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – shit

Cholera is a very acute and dangerous infectious disease that, if left untreated, can very quickly lead to death. Infection usually occurs through the consumption of contaminated, unboiled water or food such as seafood. Direct contact with a sick person is less often the source of infection. In the initial stage of the development of cholera infection, it manifests itself as vomiting and diarrhea. Failure to take treatment leads to an exacerbation of the disease.

The cholera vaccine is recommended especially for travelers to southern Asia. The vaccine contains live but weakened bacteria. A contraindication to the administration of the cholera vaccine is acute gastroenteritis. In addition, the vaccine cannot be given to children under two years of age. The vaccine is given in two doses, at least one week apart. The second dose should be administered at least 7 days before travel. The vaccine is highly effective and the duration of protection is estimated at 2 years.

One dose of cholera vaccine costs around PLN 140, which means that a full vaccination will cost around PLN 280. People who plan to travel to Afghanistan, China, Philippines, India, Iran, Yemen, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam should get vaccinated against cholera.

More information about cholera can be found here: Damn

Vaccinations before traveling to Asia – rabies

Rabies is a very dangerous viral infectious disease. Rabies virus attacks cells of the nervous system, especially gray matter cells of the brain. The course of the disease in all animal species is basically similar and can take a violent and paralytic form.

In many cases, the infection with rabies is fatal. In fact, traveling to all Asian countries carries the risk of contracting rabies, so it is highly recommended to have this vaccine. There are herds of monkeys around some temples on the Asian continent, which can be a source of rabies.

The vaccine contains killed rabies viruses. Hypersensitivity to neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B and eggs is a contraindication to administering the rabies vaccine. The vaccine is given in three doses. The second dose is given after a week and the last dose after 21 or 28 days. The effectiveness of the vaccine is very high, and the duration of its protection is estimated at 5 years.

One dose of rabies vaccine costs about PLN 170, which means that a full vaccination should be paid about PLN 510.

More information on rabies can be found here: Rabies – symptoms, vaccine

Other vaccinations before traveling to Asia

The list of vaccinations recommended for travel to Asia does not end with those described above. Some doctors advise their patients to have the following vaccinations:

1. hepatitis A vaccine – it is a highly effective and safe vaccine. The first dose should be taken approximately two weeks before departure. This dose will protect you from disease for one year. After 6-18 months, a second dose of the vaccine should be administered to immunize the body for many years. One dose of hepatitis A vaccine costs about PLN 230. You should pay about 460 zlotys for two doses.
2. hepatitis B vaccine – this is a vaccine that is given in three doses. In the usual vaccination schedule, the second dose is given one month later and the last dose six months after the first dose. It is also possible to administer the vaccine according to the rapid schedule in which the dose is 6. The second dose is taken after 4 days, the third dose after 7 days and the last dose one year after the first injection. One dose of the vaccine costs about PLN 21.
3. polio vaccine – if you are traveling to India, Pakistan or Afghanistan, you will need a booster. If childhood polio vaccination has not been completed, a schedule of 2 vaccinations is indicated, given 4 – 8 weeks apart, followed by a booster dose 6 – 12 months after the 2nd vaccination. One dose of polio vaccine costs about PLN 100.

For more information on vaccinations for traveling to Asia, see: Don’t come back from vacation with the plague

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.