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What shots do you need for an RTW trip?

What shots do you need for an RTW trip?

I am now invincible after my last shot!

adam shot 2

Our list of shots

This is just what we did please consult the CDC and a travel clinic to give you full details on what you need to protect against!

Hep A – Takes two shots 6 months apart for lifetime immunity

Hep-B – A series of 3 shots over 6 months for lifetime immunity

Yellow Fever – one shot! This is only needed for a limited part of the world, which of course we are traveling to, Africa, and parts of South America.

Rabies – 3 shots, the schedule is strict on this series so make sure you have time. Your second shot has to be 7 days exactly after the first and then the 3rd is between day 21 -28 after. This was one of the only shots that left me a bit sore. Also, if you are a traveler from the US, doctors may be reluctant to give you this vaccine due to limited quantities.

Tetanus – We had these and the 10-year span between shots will cover us until our expected return.

Typhoid – we are taking the pill version on this vaccination, 4 pills over the course of a week.

Meningitis – We did not get this but it was a recommendation from our new travel doc.

Hannah Shot


At least my band-aid matches my outfit!

 

Other medical precautions in our pack

Medical Kit

We talked our travel clinic into giving us perceptions for many things we expect to come across on the road. Most should be available while traveling, but our insurance covered them so we decided to stock up!

TD pills! – Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that targets stomach bugs a well as other infections such as UTIs

Malaria pills Mefloquine – Taken a week prior, during, and for 2 weeks after a stay in an area know to have malaria.

Skin or wound infections: Cephalexin – if like me, you have ever stepped on something on the beach only to have it become painfully infected, you might want to consider carrying some of these.

Disclaimer: We are not doctors, just travelers. This post is not to be used as medical advice. We can not be responsible you or your health, be sure to consult a doctor prior to traveling. Be sure to get seen with enough time to get any required shots, some have very long periods between follow ups!

Travel Safe! 

Eric

Monday 2nd of September 2013

Wow that is a lot of shots! We're thinking about forgoing the rabies vaccine because of the huge expense involved. Did you get the rabies shot for particular region or just in case?

Hannah

Tuesday 3rd of September 2013

Our insurance paid for our rabies vaccination shots, so it didn't make sense not to get it. Had we had to pay $100's for it we would have probably skipped it.

Hannah

Wednesday 17th of July 2013

Thanks! A lot of people over think the vaccinations they might need/want to get before traveling, and we hope this post helps answer some questions!

Ryan

Tuesday 9th of July 2013

Damn, lots and lots of shots. Should have gotten them before I left Apple! Guess I'll be paying out of pocket for these though. I'll have to look up some good travel insurance though and see if any will cover the costs of the mess or something. I only have 4 months to go, hopefully it's not going to be an issue for the Hep A/B!

Hannah

Wednesday 10th of July 2013

Yeah it was a lot....You should also look into maybe getting the in Asia, I am 99% sure it will be cheaper!! Also call your local health dept, Adam got his Hep A thru the that it was only like $60.

Catie

Monday 8th of July 2013

They gave me chloroquine for malaria. Be careful of mefloquine, it's what they give people in the Peace Corps and military and about half of people have really bad reactions... depression, hallucinations....

Adam

Monday 8th of July 2013

I have heard that before, but we both have taken the mefloquine in 2010 and again this past week and THANKFULLY we haven't had any issues. Hopefully it stays this way!

Franca

Monday 8th of July 2013

This post brings me back to when we started our RTW trip, we also had shots for polio, colera and few more, an expensive business but necessary!

Hannah

Monday 8th of July 2013

It like shots, shots and more shots! There were several shots we needed that we already got as kids ex. measles, polio, etc. We were lucky our insurance paid for everything!!