Vaccinations and medications
My husband and I will be on the Spotlight On India tour starting February 26. What vaccinations/precautions do most travelers take? Also, what medications, including over-the-counter meds, are advisable? We are experienced travelers, but feel that we should be more cautious and aware when traveling in India. We are very excited about this trip and wouldn't want it spoiled by something preventable.
Thanks for your advice...
Thanks for your advice...
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This is an amazing tour. Also suggest checking out some of the Oberoi "Experiences" on their website - not part of the Tauck tour but worth doing and the cost. We arrived a couple days early in New Delhi and did the Tea Tasting, and private cooking lesson with the chef at the hotel. The cooking lesson was fantastic. Also did an excursion to Arkshardham temple (car/driver from Oberoi) - worth seeing and spending a few hours there.
In Jaipur we did the Oberoi Experience - Elephant Safair to Naila - was a wonderful elephant ride through the farm country, with "high tea" (meal unto itself) at Naila Fort (private residence of Mr. Oberoi)
Never underestimate the seriousness of contracting Malaria, once you have it that's it, it can kill. You or you will have it flare up for life. Have you ever seen someone with a malaria attack? I have, it is not pleasant!
We will be on this trip in February
We are going to be on the same trip and look forward to meeting you. Your Travel Disease Specialist can best advise you about vaccinations. We were assessed by our specialist and were given the following:
- Malarone (for malaria): 1 tablet daily to be taken until 3 days after leaving the malaria affected area. We are to start taking it one day before going to an area of risk (in our case, one day prior to leaving Delhi for Varanasi).
- Dukoral (for cholera and diarrhea): 2 doses. The 1st dose is taken 2-4 weeks before the trip, and the 2nd dose is taken 1 week after the 1st one. Unfortunately Dukoral is only 30-50% effective. So, if we develop diarrhea in spite of having taken Dukoral, we are to take Azithromycin 500 mg per day for 3 days and also take immodium.
- In addition, we have received vaccinations for typhoid (required every 3 years); diphtheria, tetanus and polio (required every 10 years); Twinrix for hepatitis A and B; influenza vaccine; and pneumovax.
- A big concern is the epidemic of dengue fever in northern India. Unfortunately there is no vaccine for this virus and all one can do is to protect oneself from mosquito bites by using insecticide. We were given Ben's 30 DEET, which is available on the Tauck site.
Of course it is up to your physician to decide what is best for you, and I am just sharing what we were advised. We are getting so excited about our trip. See you soon.
I don't know where you live, but most larger cities, especially if there is an university with a medical school, have Travel Immunizations Specialists on board. Their visit and some of their medications are not usually covered by insurance in the US. I don't know about anywhere else. They will discuss medications, side effects, and effectiveness of a variety of Rx.
I have had malaria and it was not pleasant. I wasn't sure if it was winter or summer--I was shivering and sweating at the same time. 104 degree temps along with dehydration are no fun. I had one very mild reoccurrence a year after the initial contraction. I have not had one since and that has been over 40 years ago. You want to do everything possible to avoid it. The meds might give you a bit of short term diarrhea, but some Immodium will probably clear that up.
The best thing for every individual is to go to the Travel Immunizations Specialist with your medical records so they can design a plan that takes into account any medical issues you might already have. Most PCPs don't really know much about this--it isn't their job--so they will send you to someone who does. Good luck and enjoy the trip.
Sheila
Just enjoy your journey. If you get hit, deal with it there and then.
Richard