An Ounce of Prevention, a Pound of Cure

Some of the loveliest beaches and scenery exist in Thailand. Flip-flops and swimsuits often seem part of the mandatory attire on or near the beach. And one day while walking along beautiful white sands, you notice a sharp pain in your foot. You seem to have cut yourself on some rusty metal. Just a scrape, it only hurt a little bit at the time, but a week later your jaw hurts and you start to have difficulty swallowing. And maybe you think to yourself, “Was it that little scrape at the beach? Am I getting lockjaw? When was the last time I had a tetanus booster?”

While this hypothetical but quite common scenario may not be true for you, getting regular booster shots and vaccinations is especially important when travelling and for individuals who have increased exposure or are more susceptible to communicable diseases such as children, students and older people.
 

Vaccinations - Preventing Disease and Illness

From newborns to the elderly, everyone should stay up-to-date on their vaccinations. Early on, babies should maintain a rigorous vaccination schedule to ensure the greatest level of protection possible. Preventable diseases with vaccines include:

• Hep A or Hep B vaccines to prevent Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B
• Varicella vaccine to help avoid the Chickenpox
• DTaP vaccine to protect against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis
• RV vaccine to prevent Rotavirus
• MMR vaccine to protect against Measles, Mumps and Rubella
• IPV to prevent Polio
• PCV13 to stop Pneumococcal, including Meningitis
• Flu vaccine
• Hib vaccine to avoid Haemophilus influenzae type b (pneumonia and meningitis)
• HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts and resulting complications of cervical cancer for women
• Herpes Zoster vaccine for adults aged 60 and over

While many of the vaccines listed above are targeted for children and young people, it is important to remember that booster shots may be necessary to update your own immunizations. This is especially important for travelers who may need destination-specific vaccinations or people who live in areas and are exposed to diseases like yellow fever, typhoid and rabies.

Rabies is spread by the bite of an infected mammal such as a dog or bat, and is a particular concern among unvaccinated street dogs. If you plan to spend a lot of time in remote areas, or plan to be interacting with street dogs, make sure to get inoculated against Rabies.
 

Bumrungrad Hospital - Taking Care to get the Best Care

If you do not have the latest boosters or sufficient time has lapsed since your last shots, be sure to update now. For travelers domestically and internationally, see our Information of Current International Infectious Disease.

For expecting parents or those with newborns, check out Bumrungrad’s Children’s (Pediatrics) Center.
If you are; travelling, cannot remember the last time you had booster shots to keep your immunizations current, have misplaced your records, or have newborn, contact Bumrungrad Hospital to schedule an appointment.  Dial +66 2011 2222, request an appointment online, or send us your inquiry.