Travel Vaccinations & Advice for Thailand

No doubt, Thailand is an amazing destination to be relaxed, but it requires to take a few precautions to ensure your foreign trip is safe or you don’t return with a vile illness. If you are travelling to Thailand, you should consider some of the healthcare tips, especially related to the vaccinations that you require before travelling.

What are the Vaccinations Recommended for Thailand

While travelling to Thailand you will have to ensure certain vaccinations, recommended by the CDC and WHO. Apart from all the routine childhood vaccinations, you’ll require the following:

• Measles Mumps Rubella Chickenpox (MMR) - two doses of vaccine or the actual disease
• Polio - in childhood
• Hepatitis B - complete course
• Meningococcal - if relevant for the age
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Whooping Cough - within the last 5-10 years
• All travellers should sincerely consider having a vaccination for influenza
• Travellers who are above the age 65 years are highly recommended for Shingles and Pneumonia vaccines

Extra things for Thailand

• Hepatitis A vaccination is highly recommended for the emigrants for Thailand, even if you are going to visit 5-star hotels or restaurants.
• Typhoid vaccination is required if you wish to visit places with less sanitization or eat food from local markets. You can take a combine of Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccination. However, consult your doctor first.
• Rabies vaccination is required as 1% of travellers to Thailand has the potential to catch with Rabies
• Malaria preventive measures are recommended for travellers visiting remote areas. However, places such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Koh Samui etc. Malaria vaccination is not required. The possibility of Dengue virus is very common, so precautions are highly recommended.
• ZIka and Chikungunya can also be found in Thailand. When there is no vaccination is available for these diseases, the only solution is taking precautions. Use mosquito repellents, wear proper cloths covering the body parts, avoid visiting remote areas etc.
• You’ll need vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis if the duration is more than a month or if you’re visiting rural areas.
• Don’t forget to carry your own fast-aid kit along with the medical-essentials to treat the smaller issues such as pain, wounds, gastro, cough and cold etc.
• The required vaccinations are needed to be taken 4 to 6 weeks before the exact travelling dates.

Key Pointers:

• Get vaccinated as soon as possible
• Eat and drink safely
• Don’t ignore anti-malarial meds
• Prevent bug bites
• Stay away from animals
• Avoid sharing body fluids
• Avoid using non-sterilised medical or cosmetic equipment
• Pregnant ladies should take special precautions and must consult a doctor before taking a particular vaccination
• Though Thailand is risk-free from Yellow fever, the Government will require a proof of vaccination, if you are travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever. However, it doesn’t include USA. So, someone travelling from other than USA must have produce a proof of YFV vaccination.