Do You Still Bother With Vaccinations?

[bumblebee]

Before my first trip to Los I went to The Tropical Medical Bureau in Dublin and got the recommend 4 jabs they advised:

 

Tetanus, Typhoid, Hep A and Hep B,

 

Having never been outside Europe before, I was seriously paranoid about catching something life threatening in this far flung tropical destination, the fear of the unknown indeed.  I vaguely recall the doctor mentioning that some of these jabs would need a booster in a few years to 10 years if memory serves me well. 

 

But of course over the years since, Los became a second home and I totally forgot about this advice, and never followed up on the booster jabs, and hey I am still standing.  I have no real intention on getting them maybe I am tempting fate.

 

So how about you guys, do you get regular-ish vaccineboosters or did you even get the initial jabs before your first trip?

[BigTel]

I went for the initial jab before my first trip in 1981  and after that never bothered again.  

[SiamSam]

I went for the initial jab before my first trip in 1981  and after that never bothered again.  

 

That's why I kissed you back then. 

[Kahuna]

Before I made my first trip I asked my VA doc and he said don't bother...So I didn't......

[Guest sustra2]

i am immune to hepatitis B...why? 'cause i was so fucking stupid not to have my vaccination and caught it...i was lucky to recover ( 5 years ago )....strong body...but i still recommend everybody to have Hepatitis B vaccination done...also because it is compulsory not to drink if you want to recover...( i still remember 5 months without drinking .......was a nightmare!! )

[xyzzy]

Tetanus shots are pretty standard here in the US. I've been getting a shot every 10 years for as long as I can remember. Been 2005 since I did my two HEP A shots and three HEP B shots. Don't know how long they last but I'll wait for RX to show up in this thread and tell us. 

[globetrotter]

I just had

my second (of 3) Twinrix shots, which is a combined shot for hep A and B and was told only getting 2 your are good for approx 3-5 yrs and with the third you are good for life

[rxpharm]

Keeping your vaccinations current is a good idea and cheap insurance against much worse things in the future.

 

Here's the adult immunization guide from Public Health Agency of Canada for a healthy adult:

 

 

Table 1: Adult immunization - recommendations for routine immunization in healthy adults at low risk^{Table 1 - Footnote 1} Vaccine Recommendations for routine immunization Table 1 - Footnote 1 Refer to vaccine-specific chapters in Part 4 for additional information. Refer to Table 2 for recommendations for adults with risk factors. Diphtheria Tetanus Primary series for previously unimmunized adults
Booster dose every 10 years Herpes zoster (shingles) 60 years of age and older - 1 dose
50 to 59 years of age - may be given 1 dose HPV Women up to and including 26 years of age - bivalent (HPV2) or quadrivalent (HPV4) vaccine
Men up to and including 26 years of age -HPV4 vaccine Measles Mumps Susceptible adults born in or after 1970 - 1 dose
Born before 1970 - consider immune Meningococcal conjugate Adults up to and including 24 years of age not immunized in adolescence - 1 dose Pertussis One dose of acellular pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap) in adulthood
Adults who will be in close contact with young infants should be immunized as early as possible Pneumococcal 23-valent polysaccharide (Pneu-P-23) 65 years of age and older - 1 dose Polio Primary series for previously unimmunized adults when a primary series of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine is being given or with routine tetanus and diphtheria-toxoid containing vaccine booster doses Rubella Susceptible adults - 1 dose
If vaccine is indicated, pregnant women should be immunized after delivery Varicella (chickenpox) Susceptible adults up to and including 49 years of age - 2 doses; if previously received 1 dose should receive a second dose
Known seronegative adults 50 years of age and older - 2 doses - routine testing is not advised

 

The effectiveness of Hepatitis B vaccine is about 15 years, and for Hepatitis A vaccine it is about 20 years, as per the Public Health agency of Canada.

 

I keep my vaccinations current, as I've seen what can happen to people that do not.

[Torurot]

How about Polio?

[rxpharm]

It's mentioned, but the formatting didn't turn out when the table was copied:

 

 

POLIO         Primary series for previously unimmunized adults when a primary series of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine is being given  or with routine tetanus and diphtheria-toxoid containing vaccine booster doses

 

Polio was considered eradicated in the Western Hemisphere in 1991 and is no longer a routine vaccination in that part of the world. Polio vaccination still takes place in many developing countries, and is generally administered to children. If there are outbreaks in western countries, then that area may be given polio vaccines if it is considered a serious outbreak.

[Hefe]

I just got the shingles vaccine recently. Next up will be a cane, a bad toupee & eating supper at 4:30 pm I guess..... 

 

Speaking of getting shots did you know that the highest rate of STD in Florida is at a place called the Villages, a huge collection of planned communities for seniors (over 50,000) unencumbered by children or pregnancies & lousy with Cialis who hit the bars & each other with gusto. Highest per capita rate of draft beer consumption in the state too. Lots more women than men too.....  

Go Granny Go Go!

 

http://www.mybaycity.com/scripts/p3_v2/P3V3-0200.cfm?P3_newspaperID=NewspaperID&P3_ArticleID=3619

[lance2546]

In my opinion a Rabies vaccination is an important one, especially here in Thailand. Most soi dogs are too lazy to bite- but not all of them :)