Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with vaccinations

What vaccinations for Bangalore from US?

blue_wardrobe — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:05:56 -0800

What vaccinations for US visitor to Bangalore? I live in the US, and I found out a few days ago that I need to travel to Bangalore in 10 days for a 10 day trip. My wife said, "What about vaccinations?"

Many company colleagues visit there, and I've never heard any of them mention vaccinations, which is why it didn't occur to me. I don't know for sure, but I suspect many of my colleagues don't bother.

There are various recommendations for vaccinations floating around, but none of them are mandatory.

What do I really need to consider getting, and can it be done effectively so as to take effect in 10 days?

(PS - Yes I will ask my doctor, but I would like to go pre-informed.)

Multi-dose vaccinations - what happens if you miss a dose?

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:45:57 -0800

Gardasil is given in 3 doses across 6 months, so what if you decide not to get the the last two doses? I have custody of my niece, who is 12. At her physical, her doctor recommended the typical booster shots as well as the HepA vaccination and Gardasil, the vaccine against HPV.

I agreed to the vaccinations.

When I checked back with the 12-year old's mother to tell her about the physical and the shots, it turns out that my sister doesn't believe in vaccinations. In particular, she was fearful of new vaccines on the market, like Gardasil. I immediately regretted my decision to allow the vaccinations and kept mum about the Gardasil.

So, what happens if I don't agree to the final two administrations of Gardasil? Will it be as if the 12-year old never got the vaccine, or will she be more susceptible to getting the virus now, or...?

Also, any suggestions on how to come clean with my sister? I am annoyed by my lack of foresight and disappointed that I never sought her consent first.

I do have an appointment to discuss this with the 12-year old's doctor, but it's not for a few weeks and I want to try to defuse the situation as much as possible with my sister. I'm posting anonymously because I don't want my sister to know about this before I tell her.

How do I get vaccinated for travel to West Africa?

Nothing — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:52:59 -0800

I have the opportunity to visit West Africa, but I do not have health insurance or a doctor. How do I go about getting the vaccinations needed, and how much will it cost? The details: I would be going to Dakar, Senegal. The trip would be in February. I am in northern Virginia.

The CDC has a guide, but I don't have a doctor to ask, as they suggest. Can I just go to a clinic or something?

Advice for India travel? (Health protection)

caitlinb — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 17:52:43 -0800

I am traveling to Kolkata for a week around Christmas. I am researching shots/meds requirements and am coming up against recommendations for malaria protection. I'm reluctant to use doxycycline or Lariam. I'm looking for personal experience info about the different options. Other travel advice, tips, or recommendations are also welcome!

Chickenpox Vaccine: Yea or Nea?

Otis — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 06:47:24 -0800

Chickenpox Vaccine: Yea or Nea? This would be for a 15-month-old child. After a great deal of research on vaccinations, we decided to get all the recommended ones for our son. I'm not sure about the Chickenpox vaccination though. Is it really necessary? Do the potential benefits outweigh the dangers? Extra information: he is not in day care. We also have an 11-year-old in public school who has not had Chickenpox or the vaccine. My wife and I both had Chickenpox as children. (I know vaccines are a contentious topic, so I'd like to try to narrow this discussion to the pros/cons of the Chickenpox vaccine. Thanks.)

Travel Medicine in NYC

superfem — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:33:24 -0800

Help me find a travel medicine clinic in Manhattan. I will soon be traveling abroad to an area for which vaccinations and prescriptions are necessary. I have found a few travel medicine services in the NYC area via Google but am having trouble determining how legitimate/established they are and how helpful they can be with related medical questions. Looking for some personal recommendations or suggestions to help me wade through my Google results... Thanks in advance.

What vaccinations or immunizations should I get?

pwb503 — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 18:32:52 -0800

I'm not a tinfoil hat type of guy but just in case, what vaccinations or immunizations should I, as a 30 year old american, get? Let's say I budgeted $1,000 to cover the bases; I'm not planning on taking any trips to the jungle, working with blood, doing drugs or having anal sex. What could I take care of with a budget like that?

what are the pros and cons of being immunized for the first time as an adult?

k8t — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 05:49:01 -0800

If an 18-year-old currently residing in the U.S. has never had any vaccinations or immunizations, what are the pros and cons of starting the process of becoming immunized now? She has forged paperwork from her home country that says that she has had the essentials (MMR, tetanus, no Hep B). She is attending college this fall in the U.S. I can certainly see the need for her to get them, but are there risks that I am not aware of when starting this as an adult? Does standard college medical insurance cover this sort of thing?

I need some good, solid information about child vaccines.

recurve — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 17:12:05 -0800

I need some good, solid information about child vaccines. Everything I read either smacks of propaganda (the anti-vaccine side) or is cheerfully oversimplified (the pro-vaccine side). Is there a moderate, objective book or website that addresses the claims of both sides? I've been to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. Lame.

I've read through some books, "A Shot in the Dark" among others, and they're full of gloom and doom. Perhaps rightly, but I've yet to see any pro-vaccine source address these claims and debunk them.

One claim that seems damning to vaccines is that diphtheria and measels were on the decline well before vaccinations for these diseases started, due to increased health and hygiene.

How can I minimize soreness from these vaccinations?

yangwar — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 17:58:57 -0800

I was given a ton of vaccinations today (IPV, MMR, Tetanus, MGC, HEP A, HEP B, PPD). Any suggestions on how to minimize soreness in the days to come? I've heard that doing push-ups helps "spread" the vaccine and loosen up the muscles. Sounds like bunk to me. Is this true? Any other suggestions on what I can do now to minimize pain in the future?