Some of these shots are required, some are recommended.
General
- Diphtheria-tetanus – you should have had a booster shot within the last 10 years.
- Gamma globulin prevents Hepatitis A and also has some effects against tetanus, rabies, and measles. One interesting note that I read in one of the pre trip literature packets is that the World Health Organization has established that there has not been a case of reported AIDS in over 20 million administered doses of the Hep A immunization. They have also said that there is little chance of contracting the AIDS virus during the immunization period.
- Influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia are two vaccines that are very effective with little side effect.
- There was a Meningococcus outbreak in Nepal in 1984 and since then the U.S. Public Health Service has recommended this vaccine.
- Typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers traveling in this part of the world. Some of the side effects of this shot may be pain at the injection site, fever, headache, and malaise.
- Malaria can be a problem in the lowlands of Nepal. This is not a problem in the high elevations of the Himalayas. See your physician for more information because there are always changing resistance in strains of Malaria. Make sure that you will need this vaccination before you actually take the medication. There are several different types of medication you can take for malaria. This medication comes pill form which you start taking a week before the trip, once a week during the trip and then a specified number of weeks after the trip. This medication can cause some nasty side effects.
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