HEALTH VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( advices)

[Frank2002]

I am just planning my second trip tp PI in the next few weeks if all goes well. On my first trip I went at the last second and did not have or take shots or health precautions. Should a person have some sort of vacines before you go like for malaria, hep, etc? I am not sure which ones to take or not. Any advice from more seasoned travelers or persons in the health care field would be appreciated.

Newbie from Canada

[Dave H]

... in response to HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( advi..., posted by Frank2002 on Feb 1, 2003

[This message has been edited by Dave H]

Hey Frank,

Like others have said, I think that Hep B (series of 3) is always a good idea, even in US and Canada. Unless you plan to go into the bundoks, that is probably all you will need.

More important to me is to drink safe, clean water and avoid ice cubes, unless made from a pure source.

All the mosquitos found me...I guess they liked my sweet Kano blood. LOL If nothing else, use of repellants and mosquito netting at night when needed, will stop you from itching like a crazy mad man...me. Put a few geckos in your room for fun. They eat mosquitos and bugs and also make interesting noices. LOL Much to my surprize, my wife really liked them. Have a great trip!

Dave H.

[Jeff S]

... in response to Not Much..., posted by Dave H on Feb 4, 2003

That's supposed to discourage crawly things from biting you. You must get used to then in Florida, though.
- Jeff

[Frank2002]

... in response to Not Much..., posted by Dave H on Feb 4, 2003

Thanx Dave for your help, but what is a geckos? Is that some sort of lizard or somthing hahhahha I think I seen pics of those ones before, are they the ones that hang on the ceilings?

I am sure I had a Hep B shots before, how long are they good for any idea? Reason I am asking is coz I hate to many needles:-)))))

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Not Much...(Thanx Dave), posted by Frank2002 on Feb 4, 2003

Hi Frank,

Geckos look like some sort of mutated lizard that stick to ceilings and walls. Sorry, I live in the subtropics and have them all over the place...outside my house. One of the many things I love about my wife is that she is not afraid of much...including snakes. I would imagine that many Filipinas are the same way.

Hep B shots are supposed to be good for life. It is a series of 3 injections over a course of 6 months. Needles...I didn't like them either. I got used to them after I became a "practice dummy" (instructor) for paramedic and various medical students. =8oO

Dave H.

[DanAndChed]

... in response to HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( advi..., posted by Frank2002 on Feb 1, 2003

There are a few shots recommeded.  I found the CDC site through the State Department site with all the warnings.  Start there and read all the warnings.  When I last went they were recommending Hep A & B as well as typhoid.  Malaria was location specific.  The typhoid made me real sick.  I'll never take it again.  As for the Hep vaccines, they are not bad.  I got them at a travel clinic.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( ..., posted by DanAndChed on Feb 2, 2003

Yes and they would also recommend not even going to the Philippines at all... its just a bunch of hype IMHO.

[DanAndChed]

... in response to Re: Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO ..., posted by Humabdos on Feb 2, 2003

Disagree!  When I was in Negros last, it was reported locally that Dengee fever was making the rounds.  This is a mosquito born disease and deadly to children.  

My wife even agrees with me on immunizations.

I lived in Asia for two years.  A lot of the locals had Hep B and TB.

Is it worth the risk?

Dan

[Frank2002]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING..., posted by DanAndChed on Feb 4, 2003

DanAndChad what vacines do you recommand a person gets than before they go to PI? What would you take as a precaution?

Thanx

[DanAndChed]

... in response to HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( DanA..., posted by Frank2002 on Feb 4, 2003

I'm not a doctor or expert.  I went to the CDC site and then scheduled an appointment at a travel clinic.  The shots were expensive.  My childrens doctor recommended I go to the local Public Health office.  He told me they were a good source of what was needed and free or cheap.

http://www.cdc.gov/travel
http://www.who.int/en

Dan and Mares

[Ray]

... in response to HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( DanA..., posted by Frank2002 on Feb 4, 2003

[This message has been edited by Ray]

...don't involve any needles. These always work for me:

1. Bring a bunch of Pepto Bismol chewable tablets with you. Take two before every meal and you will have much less trouble with the stomach and intestinal tract.

2. Drink a lot of Tanduay Rum. It will kill most of the bugs before they can infect your guts. It tastes good too!

3. Bring several small bottles of Tabasco sauce and carry one with you whenever you go to someone's home. You never know what they are going to feed you and the Tabasco will make the dried squid and pig's blood taste bearable. I think it also kills most bacteria (?).

4. Eat a LOT of garlic. It will help keep the mosquitoes away. Use a good mosquito repellant when out in the boonies. Eating a lot of beans will also keep the mosquitoes (and people) away :-)

5. Drink only bottled water, San Miguel beer, or rum. Soft drinks are bad for you anyway, unless you mix your rum in them (Cuba Libres---mmmmmmm!)

Ray

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING..., posted by DanAndChed on Feb 4, 2003

I found out while in the Philippines, that they can determine the type of mosquito that bit you by the type of disease you contract. Always nice to know...I guess. LOL

Dave H.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING..., posted by DanAndChed on Feb 4, 2003

As far as I know their isn't any shot or pill to prevent Dengee fever. Use a Misquito net at night and Off. Having a hep B shot would be good for anyone even here in the USA.
Hum

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE G..., posted by Humabdos on Feb 4, 2003

Hey Hum,

There is no vaccine to prevent Dengee fever. Precautions are the best way to prevent it.

Dave H.

[Ray]

... in response to HEALTH  VACINES BEFORE GOING TO PI( advi..., posted by Frank2002 on Feb 1, 2003

...but if you REALLY want to be safe, ask your doctor what is recommended. You will need to tell him which islands and which areas you plan to visit. There may be a few areas where malaria prophylaxis is recommended, but I think you will need to start it several weeks before you leave. Personally, I wouldn't take the malaria pills because they can make you pretty sick. I think the CDC also publishes some lists.

Ray