T. Carr, Atkinson, All Others,

I am going to Masailand in August. Recently read Terry's post on "not too soon for vaccinations". Thanks for the heads up Terry. I checked the CDC website on Tanzania. Got an overload of potentially necessary vacinations. I think I probably need to refer to a travel clinic. Any ideas on what is really necessary in Masailand? My current list is Hep A, Typhoid, Tetanus and possibly yellow fever and polio. Seems like a lot, but better safe than sorry. A friend that is a PA told me to do a hep vaccine correctly, you have to get an initial shot, then another at six months. So Terry's advice is dead on!!! That does not leave me a lot of time before August. Hugh

Hugh,

MD Travel Health is a great website. Easier to read than the CDC.

Tetanus - Yes
Polio - Yes
Hep A - Yes
Typhoid - Yes
Yellow Fever - Yes

You must get the Yellow Fever vaccination if you visit Tanzania. Tanzania is a Yellow Fever Endemic Zone and you need the international vaccination card to prove you have been vaccinated for Yellow Fever if you want to travel to other countries.

I have also been vaccinated for Hep B (three shots over 6 months) just in case I ever need a blood transfusion.

Regards,

Terry

P.S.
A couple of weeks before you go you will need malaria meds and prescriptions for Cipro (or similar) for diarrhea, Doxycycline (antibiotic for tick fever) and sleeping pills.

P.S.S.
Try you local county health department, usually much cheaper than a private physician.

Hugh,

Take the vaccinations like Terry said as it's better to be safe than sorry. And use a Malaria prophylactic.

Keep in mind though that no vaccine or prophylactic can guarantee 100% that you won't get sick! The Typhoid vaccine for example is only about 80% sure if I remember correctly. I've had Typhiod even though I was vaccinated...

But! Don't get caught up in worrying too much about it, as chances are very slim that you'll catch anything nasty while in africa on a hunt. Remember to enjoy yourself!

I had a sore left arm for months because I crammed too much in it in too short a time. I had just finished the Hep B (3) shots as a first responder and then added the two Hep A shots and the polio booster and something else.....I asked to use both arms and they did but it was too much anyway.
ake them use the butt if at all possible to even things out a little and I advise to take an entire year to do this.

I just finished the combination of hepatitis A&B (combined into one shot for a series of three shots) and it is called Twinrix, I believe. That will result in a couple of fewer punctures if you do it that way rather than separate A and B shots.

Hugh,

Go to the health clinic or call around and you will save a fortune with the shots...My first round for my wife and I when we went to a infectious DR. cost us $800 dollars...Went to a ready care center and saved a fortune...

Mike

As vaccines are conceived to be sold worldwide at reasonable prices ( or for nothing concerning the poor countries), one can imagine prices are about the same in every country.
I made a calculation of the cost of a thorough vaccination.
Diptheria Polio 10
Typhoid 25
Yellow Fever 20
A Hep (2 x) 60
B Hep (3 x) 80
3 consultations 100
TOTAL 275 $[LIST]
Are You afraid of Cholera and Leptospirosis add 20$.
GLOBAL COST 300$