When you plan on going to another country, you must take the necessary precautions beforehand to ensure that you are healthy during your trip. For many Westerners, the change in food and environment can be difficult to adjust to in China. Some people have iron stomachs and will be able to dive right into China’s street food and munch scorpion kabobs; while others, however scrutinizing they are of the food and water they ingest, will be sick every other meal. This is one of the obvious annoyances of traveling to Asia, but not a reason not to go. Getting your vaccines ahead of time will give you both peace of mind and help you avoid some extremely unpleasant experiences, which can be exacerbated by the fact that you are sick in a foreign country and trying to use a Chinese toilet. Make sure and plan ahead when considering which vaccines to get because some of them need to be administered well in advance, sometimes even months.

Photo: Piemmea

General information on vaccine recommendations not related to travel.

Necessary:

Tetanus Shot

The most important vaccine that you must have up to date is your tetanus. Your tetanus shot should be given every ten years. The tetanus shot is essential to every trip because of the worldwide exposure to this disease. It’s serious, affects the central nervous system, and is caused by bacteria in open wounds, scratches, or sores. This vaccine is 100% effective in preventing tetanus in the event of severe cuts, bites, or otherwise. The tetanus shot can only be administered by injection and is available everywhere. Most people already have had the vaccine but check with your doctor because at times before a trip it’s best to get a booster.

MMR: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

Despite these three severe diseases being completely eradicated in most countries worldwide, there are still epidemics, including China in 2001 as well as other places in the world like Japan, the UK, USA and Israel. Most people have already been vaccinated for this but you may want to check your medical records just to be sure. Mumps refers to epidemic parotitis, which is a swelling condition of the throat caused by the mumps virus. It has been eradicated in many countries but still exists nevertheless. Rubella is what’s known as German measles and is a serious condition with no specific treatment available.

Photo: Dapete

Highly recommended:

Typhoid Vaccine

The typhoid vaccine is not necessary but is highly recommended. It is a simple shot or it also comes in the form of a series of pills as well. Typhoid fever is an infectious feverish disease in the digestive system from Salmonella typhi or paratyphi bacteria and can be life threatening. You can get it from eating tainted food or drinking water in unsanitary conditions. While it can be treated with antibiotics, it’s best to avoid this situation altogether by going ahead and getting vaccinated beforehand. Doctors recommend that you get the vaccine at least 10 days before traveling to ensure its effectiveness. The shot is called Typherix and protects you against typhoid for a period of three years and has fewer side effects than the oral tablets.

The oral form is called Vivotif and the series must be administered correctly to protect against Typhoid for a period of one year.

Hepatitis A (infectious liver inflammation)

Hepatitis can be transmitted through infected persons via unhygienic conditions through human sewage. It is most common in unsanitary conditions and can be acquired through food and drinks. There is not a specific treatment for the disease and the patient develops jaundice. The vaccine is administered in a series of shots 6 months apart and is good against Hepatitis A for a period of 10 years. Doctors recommend that you have the first shot 2 weeks before you travel.

If you will only be traveling for a short time (one to three months), there is a vaccine available for short term called normal immunoglobulin. It will prevent additional diseases short-term like hepatitis A, measles, and mumps. Note that this is only short term and it is usually administered to unvaccinated people who have already been exposed.

Twinrix combines the vaccines for both Hepatitis A and B and is available in an accelerated dose for those that need the vaccine immediately before traveling.

Photo: Bios

For more Information regarding recommended vaccines, see our Recommendations for Vaccines, part 2 coming up soon. Also, keep checking back for our articles on “Staying Healthy in China”

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