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Innoculations for Kenya?



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 5th, 2004, 11:48 AM
Bobby
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Default Innoculations for Kenya?

Can anyone advise me about the injections I need for travel to Kenya in
February from the UK?

We're going on holiday. One week beach and one week safari.

Thanks.

Bobby


  #2  
Old December 6th, 2004, 02:44 PM
riverman
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"Bobby" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise me about the injections I need for travel to Kenya in
February from the UK?

We're going on holiday. One week beach and one week safari.

Thanks.

Bobby

Bobby: you asked this less than a week ago, and got a dozen replies already.
Get the range: typhoid, yellow fever (required), tetanus, hepatitus A and B
(better get started...these take time), measles mumps rubella. Also, get
some malaria meds and start on them as prescribed. Nothing ruins a vacation
faster than getting sick and dying right afterwards.


--riverman


  #3  
Old December 6th, 2004, 02:44 PM
riverman
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Bobby" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise me about the injections I need for travel to Kenya in
February from the UK?

We're going on holiday. One week beach and one week safari.

Thanks.

Bobby

Bobby: you asked this less than a week ago, and got a dozen replies already.
Get the range: typhoid, yellow fever (required), tetanus, hepatitus A and B
(better get started...these take time), measles mumps rubella. Also, get
some malaria meds and start on them as prescribed. Nothing ruins a vacation
faster than getting sick and dying right afterwards.


--riverman


  #4  
Old December 6th, 2004, 03:01 PM
Bobby
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Posts: n/a
Default

It was actually about a month ago.

And my PC went down. Complete re-install needed so I lost all of my OE
files.

Thanks for the reply.

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?

Bobby

"riverman" wrote in message
...

"Bobby" wrote in message
...
Can anyone advise me about the injections I need for travel to Kenya in
February from the UK?

We're going on holiday. One week beach and one week safari.

Thanks.

Bobby

Bobby: you asked this less than a week ago, and got a dozen replies
already. Get the range: typhoid, yellow fever (required), tetanus,
hepatitus A and B (better get started...these take time), measles mumps
rubella. Also, get some malaria meds and start on them as prescribed.
Nothing ruins a vacation faster than getting sick and dying right
afterwards.


--riverman



  #5  
Old December 6th, 2004, 03:54 PM
Liz
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Default

In message
"Bobby" wrote:

It was actually about a month ago.

And my PC went down. Complete re-install needed so I lost all of my OE
files.

Thanks for the reply.

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?


If you're in the UK, go to your GP or travel nurse as appropriate.
They should be connected to their nearest Tropical Health hospital, so when
you tell them where you're going they will be able to tell you what you
need, and work out a schedule for you.

They will also take your medical history into consideration.

Far better than getting advice from a bunch of non-medical strangers.
Even if I were a doctor, I don't know *your* medical history.

The requirements vary with where you're going, time of year, and local
conditions at the time. For example, for our second trip we had to have an
injection for a local strain of menigitis (this isn't always necessary). The
following year, we were shocked to discover that the wife of our driver/
guide on that trip had just died of menigitis: our injections, at the time
'only' paid c.10ukp each.

If you're outside the UK, check out what your local health services can offer.
Failing that, is there a specialist (private) Travel Clinic?

Again, I'm surprised your tour operator hasn't given you this info.
Even if you buy a 'flight only' from Trailfinders, visa and health info is
supplied on the confirmation invoice as soon as you've paid the deposit.

Slainte mhath

Liz

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
  #6  
Old December 6th, 2004, 03:54 PM
Liz
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In message
"Bobby" wrote:

It was actually about a month ago.

And my PC went down. Complete re-install needed so I lost all of my OE
files.

Thanks for the reply.

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?


If you're in the UK, go to your GP or travel nurse as appropriate.
They should be connected to their nearest Tropical Health hospital, so when
you tell them where you're going they will be able to tell you what you
need, and work out a schedule for you.

They will also take your medical history into consideration.

Far better than getting advice from a bunch of non-medical strangers.
Even if I were a doctor, I don't know *your* medical history.

The requirements vary with where you're going, time of year, and local
conditions at the time. For example, for our second trip we had to have an
injection for a local strain of menigitis (this isn't always necessary). The
following year, we were shocked to discover that the wife of our driver/
guide on that trip had just died of menigitis: our injections, at the time
'only' paid c.10ukp each.

If you're outside the UK, check out what your local health services can offer.
Failing that, is there a specialist (private) Travel Clinic?

Again, I'm surprised your tour operator hasn't given you this info.
Even if you buy a 'flight only' from Trailfinders, visa and health info is
supplied on the confirmation invoice as soon as you've paid the deposit.

Slainte mhath

Liz

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
  #7  
Old December 6th, 2004, 04:58 PM
riverman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Bobby" wrote in message
...
It was actually about a month ago.

And my PC went down. Complete re-install needed so I lost all of my OE
files.

Thanks for the reply.

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?

Bobby


Ouch, too bad about your PC. It seems to happen a lot.

"Necessary" is a strange word, as there are vaccines that you have no matter
where you live, and there are those that are not even suggested unless you
go somewhere special, like Africa. Probably many of these are not
'necessary', but you don't really know until after the fact, if ever.
However, the list isn't as long as it seems, and most are boilerplate.

Yellow Fever: if you visit most subequatorial african countries, you need to
show proof of YF vaccine when you get back home. As a result, most African
countries look at your YF Vaccine when you arrive, and there are those who
won't even let you in without it. Another poster insisted that Kenya does
not require proof of YF vaccine, but I can tell you that they read MY
vaccination card when I entered about 3 weeks ago. Better to have this
document than to try to explain why you don't actually need it as you are
standing at the immigration desk, and YF is deadly and ugly enough that you
might as well join the 99.9999% of folks here who have the vaccination.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): in the US, everyone gets this in childhood,
along with Polio and Whooping Cough. You might already have it or not, but
if not, its one of those 'childhood innoculations' that has resulted in
longer lifespans of most of the first world. As an adult, mumps can kill
you, so if you haven't had this, your physician will almost definately just
give it to you.

Typhoid: again, the chances of getting typhus are pretty slim as its almost
been eradicated....due to the strong vaccination programs worldwide. But if
you DO get it (not likely), you'll die. Its another 'childhood vaccine' that
is worth having.

Tetanus: Get it. This is one that you should keep updated every 9-10 years,
no matter where you live, and getting a cut on your foot or finger is not
worth getting tetanus over. This is in the same category as washing your
hands before dinner. Just do it.

Hepatitus A and B: these are the only ones that are merely recommended, and
not required. If you are staying in nice lodges, eating clean food and doing
the 'tourist thing', then your chances of getting Hep are pretty much nil.
If you are spending any time in-country, then its greatly recommended to
have these onboard, as you can get very sick for life if you catch them.

So, here is the summary:
MMR, Tetanus, Typhoid: standard vaccinations that most first-world people
have from childhood, and are worth having if you did not get. Add Polio to
this list.

Yellow Fever: the only one that they actually ever ask for in Africa, and
for a good reason. Look on this one as your Yellow Badge of Passage ("Hey,
cool! You had to get a special shot to go to Africa!")

Hepatitus A and B: optional, unless you spend time around open garbage pits.
Like most of subsahara Africans do.

--riverman


  #8  
Old December 7th, 2004, 08:56 PM
Hans-Georg Michna
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Posts: n/a
Default

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 14:01:43 -0000, "Bobby"
wrote:

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?


Bobby,

none is legally required these days. For a two week trip it is a
bit difficult to find out whether it is worth the side effect
risk to get any inoculation. In other words, you can't be sure
where the safe side is.

I would recommend to consult a specialist in time, then make up
your mind.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.
 




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