Knowing you and your loved ones have the necessary vaccinations gives you peace of mind when relocating to another country.

Contact your doctor at least four to six weeks before travel to book your vaccinations. Some vaccinations are recommended for all travellers and additional vaccinations are likely to be recommended for some. This will depend on any underlying health problems and where you are travelling from and to.

It’s also a good idea to check that your routine vaccinations, such as tetanus and polio, are up-to-date before you travel to Thailand and to be vigilant for any developing symptoms.

Recommended for all travellers:

Hepatitis A

• Type: Viral infection
• Transmission: Contaminated food and water or direct contact with infected person
• Symptoms: Mild or often absent in children — the disease becomes more serious with age
• Recommended for: Everyone — particularly long-stay travellers or those visiting areas with poor sanitation
• Vaccine: Well-tolerated and long-lasting

Tetanus

• Type: Toxin released by bacteria
• Transmission: Soil and manure, often transmitted through open wounds
• Symptoms: Spasms, stiffness in the jaw, difficulty swallowing
• Recommended for: Everyone — In the UK the tetanus vaccine is combined with Diphtheria and Pertussis. Speak with your doctor to confirm if you have received the combination vaccine covering these.
• Vaccine: Booster dose recommended even if standard course has been completed, if over ten years ago

Typhoid

• Type: Bacterial infection
• Transmission: Contaminated food and water
• Symptoms: Aches and pains, fever, diarrhoea or constipation, poor appetite, headaches, fever, lethargy, intestinal bleeding
• Recommended for: Everyone — particularly long-stay travellers or those visiting areas with poor sanitation
• Vaccine: Oral and injectable vaccines available

Recommended for some travellers:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Influenza

Recommended in addition to the above if travelling to certain areas or considering long-stay travel:

• Japanese B Encephalitis (if travelling in the Northern region)
• Rabies (if travelling near borders)
• Yellow fever (if travelling to or from a country in a yellow fever zone – you will need to be able to provide certification)

Aetna® is a trademark of Aetna Inc. and is protected throughout the world by trademark registrations and treaties.

Additional Sources

• http://www.gov.uk
• http://who.int
• http://www.expatarrivals.com/
• http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
• http://www.thaiembassy.com/

The information included in this communication is provided for information purposes only and it is not intended to constitute professional advice or replace consultation with a qualified medical practitioner.