Should I get any shots before traveling to China?

[Josh]

Goin to Beijing...I was wondering if I should take some immunization shots? (Hep A, Tetanis). I called the Passport Health Center and they said nothing is required but they reccomend Hep A and Tetanis ($300). What do you guys think?

 

[lozina]

A couple of shots of Johnny Walker

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Josh
Goin to Beijing...I was wondering if I should take some immunization shots? (Hep A, Tetanis). I called the Passport Health Center and they said nothing is required but they reccomend Hep A and Tetanis ($300). What do you guys think?

Yep esp. with the conditions of China. Also depends on where you are going but I would not chance it.

 

[sdifox]

Get as many shots as you can. You don't know hostile environment til you hit China.

 

[Capt Caveman]

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...

 

[PottedMeat]

'Hey 'Apu, you got that breakfast cereal for people wit' syphillis?'

 

[torpid]

Typhoid?

 

[Savij]

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationChina.aspx

 

[KeithTalent]

Nah, unless you are going off the beaten path, but just make sure you don't get shot once you get there.

KT

 

[Tsaico]

You will be fine, besides, some of the immunizations are a series and also take 30 days to be effective, so if this is a trip that will be soon, then I wouldn't bother.

I was just there a few weeks ago and I found the larger cities are very western now. Public restrooms have western and eastern stlye toilets, they had soap, running water. I don't think i would trust it to just drink from the tap like here, but really your chances of getting anything will be low.

Some tips though,

don't eat raw vegetables
if you are eating fruit, peel it yourself
don't drink straight tap unless it is boiled first
don't eat raw meats
the 3 second rule doesn't apply in China.

Don't beleive the hype, disease doesn't run rampant anywhere and you won't likely get sick if you take small precautions.

Take the SARS numbers for example, there were only 5500 or so cases. Given the population in the areas affected, and the number of people that were in contac with the ill, the numbers would be in the hundreds of MILLIONS. so not even a tenth of a percent of people got sick, and the media made it look like the whole country was getting sick and it was rampant.

So have fun on your trip.

 

[dethman]

i'm going there in a month. when will you be visiting?

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: dethman
i'm going there in a month. when will you be visiting?

May 2nd - May 12th. A while away, I know, just trying to get everything ready so I don't have to rush.

 

[Farang]

Hep A and typhoid. Typhoid fucking sucks.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I did when I went to Shanghai. It's good to have them done anyway. I'm pretty sure I got hep A, tetanus booster and typhoid. It was quick and easy.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Savij
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationChina.aspx

After reading through that site I don't even want to leave my house.

 

[sdifox]

If you grew up in China and are visiting, then you probably don't need shots since the antibodies would have already been in you. If you are some dude from the USofA whom never stepped into a hot zone, get all the shots stats.

 

[Leros]

Do you just go to the doctor and say "I'm going to _____, give me the shots I need" or is there special clinic you need to go to?

 

[Kaieye]

I wouldn't take any shots right now. In 1980 when I first visited China, I was required to take a Cholera shot. That hurt!

Eat hot foods, avoid ice in your drinks and use common sense.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: Leros
Do you just go to the doctor and say "I'm going to _____, give me the shots I need" or is there special clinic you need to go to?

I called my physician and said that. He told me they don't do travel vaccinations, but to call "passport health". There should be one in almost every state I believe. They don't take insurance, and shots can get damn expensive ($300 for 2 shots that are "suggested" for me) but they did say I can try and submit the paperwork to my insurance company which I'm sure I'll wait for weeks to get a denial from

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: sdifox
If you grew up in China and are visiting, then you probably don't need shots since the antibodies would have already been in you. If you are some dude from the USofA whom never stepped into a hot zone, get all the shots stats.

I didn't grow up in China. Was born and raised here in the USA. Been to India twice, and actually had my appendix removed the second time I was over there - which was an absoloutely painful experience. Other than that, didn't really get too sick.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: sdifox
If you grew up in China and are visiting, then you probably don't need shots since the antibodies would have already been in you. If you are some dude from the USofA whom never stepped into a hot zone, get all the shots stats.

I didn't grow up in China. Was born and raised here in the USA. Been to India twice, and actually had my appendix removed the second time I was over there - which was an absoloutely painful experience. Other than that, didn't really get too sick.

Good for you.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Leros
Do you just go to the doctor and say "I'm going to _____, give me the shots I need" or is there special clinic you need to go to?

I went to a special clinic. Local Department of Health's immunzation clinic. I made an appointment and just told them I was traveling to China. They took care of the rest. I think it cost me somewhere around $30, maybe less. You can find a clinic by going here.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: sdifox
If you grew up in China and are visiting, then you probably don't need shots since the antibodies would have already been in you. If you are some dude from the USofA whom never stepped into a hot zone, get all the shots stats.

I didn't grow up in China. Was born and raised here in the USA. Been to India twice, and actually had my appendix removed the second time I was over there - which was an absoloutely painful experience. Other than that, didn't really get too sick.

Good for you.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: sdifox
If you grew up in China and are visiting, then you probably don't need shots since the antibodies would have already been in you. If you are some dude from the USofA whom never stepped into a hot zone, get all the shots stats.

I didn't grow up in China. Was born and raised here in the USA. Been to India twice, and actually had my appendix removed the second time I was over there - which was an absoloutely painful experience. Other than that, didn't really get too sick.

Good for you.

not being sarcastic or anything, just saying you either got lucky or have a good immune system.

 

[invidia]

Been to China recently and it isn't that bad compared to many other countries. It's like a second/first world country (Depending on where you visit). It's not like Ethopia or the Amazon where you need very immunization shot known to man.