Been to see the nurse today regarding injections for the Dominican Republic.

Came out after having had: HepA, Tetanus, Typhoid, Diptheria and Polio.

We were told we do need Malaria tablets.

We were given a load of print outs on travel advice.

It says on the travel advice that Garlic and Vitamin B are ineffective.

Malaria tablets it is. Not taking a chance when there have been outbreaks.

Roll on 22 August

Hi! Im off to the DR soon and wanted to check the details about malaria tablets.
Ive heard that chloroquine is recommended. Can this be bought over the counter? Is it a week before travel that you should start taking them? How much do they cost?

Any other tips for the DR would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi

Yep, Chloroquine is the recommended antimalarial but there is also Proguanil for the minority who can't take Chloroquine.

Yep, one week before, whilst you are away, and for 4 weeks after your return.

Yep, you can buy both over the counter at a pharmacy and they are cheap ( especially when compared to the cost of your holiday or the misery of getting malaria ).

Check out all the health info and more besides on :

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk

which has all recommended tabs and jabs, child doses etc etc - loads of interesting and esential information.

Be safe, be healthy and enjoy

Scubaman

Thanks Scubaman - thats a great help!

Hubby went to Boots yesterday and for the DR he gave him Avloclor 250mg, us adults have to take 2 tablets once a week on the same day each week.

Our kids, one is 4 she has half a tablet and the 7 year old has one.

Hope they have no nasty side affects on the kids....can cope with it myself but don't like my kids to be ill.

Not sure what he paid for them.

Going a bit off thread but may be of help:

He also got Boots own brand insect repellent lotion, extra strength tropical, 50% Deet, adults and kids over 6 can use it. The little one got a normal insect repellent that's all there was for her. He sought advice, our first holiday to the Carribean wanted to be safe than sorry.

Just got all the stomach pills to get now!

Do you need jabs for all the islands in the carribean or do some require more than others. Have booked to go to DR but am having seconds thoughts HELP

Donnad,

Have a look at the FCO's website for the latest travel info including recommended innoculations. I have to have most of the recommended jabs for work so don't need them for travelling, each country is slightly different though in what is recommended.

The FCO has a page for every country worldwide.

Darren

Vaccinations are recommended for the Caribbean, these are available from your doctors surgery, for recommended jabs
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/travel/205608.html

What about mexico

Yep, you need them for Mexico as well. Don't need malaria tablets though but we did when we went to the Dom Rep.

Slightly off-topic but before my recent trip to Cuba I was advised that anybody who is susceptible to either Thrush or Cystitus would be well-advised to take appropriate remedies in their first aid kit with them as, unlike here, they are not readily available over the counter in a pharmacy and a prescription can be needed.

SM

And definitely off-topic but if there is any chance, however, remote that you might need them whilst away make sure that you take enough tampons with you if you use them. Recently in both Santiago and Havana women in my group found them impossible to obtain and for that matter the local STs leave an awful lot to be desired too. Remember that the heat can affect us in different ways and most sanpro products available in the UK won't take up that much room in your case whether you think you'll need them or not. And if you don't need them then I can assure you that any local women will be more than happy to receive them as a gift if discreetly offered.

We are off to Jamaica in nov and we are not sure if we have to have certain innoculations. Does any one know if they are needed.
Thank you

Hi

All the information you need can be found in :

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk by clicking on tabs and jabs

Scubaman

Thanks scubaman.

They are voluntary, not compulsory.

Obviously if you have them or not is upto you, but we never have in our previous Caribbean visitsand won' be for our tripto Jamaica this xmas.

L

Please can someone advise what jabs we should be having for Cuba?

No nasty side effects with Avocolor but they taste foul so be warned...with the kids its best to cut them into quarters and mix it in with yoghurt...as for jabs if you have had them this year go back for a booster in 6 months that way if you want to return to caribbean again you will not need to have jabs for 3/10 years repectively

There is an alternative Chloroquine tablet to Avlochlor called Nivaquine. They both contain the same strength of Chloroquine but are formulated as different salts.

We have taken Nivaquine on 8 trips to the Caribbean and have never detected any taste at all.

You can buy them over the counter in Pharmacies but as Pharmacies only tend to stock only one brand you may need to try more than one.

Independent Pharmacies are more likely to order them in specially for you ( normally next day delivery ) if they don't stock them than the larger chains.

Best taken with or after food.

Scubaman

Going to the Dominican R in 4 weeks time and I've got to have my jabs this Friday. The nurse says I need to have the polio, tetanus and diptheria jab and typoid and hepatitus jab but don't need to take malaria tablets for the area I'm travelling to, Puerto Plata.
All the advice sites I've looked at say I should take the tablets, now I'm confused.....

Also, do the jabs make you feel poorly as I'm going to Amsterdam this weekend the day after my jabs are done and dont really want to be ill on the ferry....

samx