Health - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1062

» Most vaccines don't produce immunity until at least two weeks after they're given.
» Ask for an International Certificate of Vaccination (otherwise known as the yellow booklet), which will
list all vaccinations given.
Recommended Vaccinations
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following vaccinations for travellers to the
Mekong region:
Adult diphtheria and tetanus Single booster recommended if you haven't had one in the previous 10
years.
Hepatitis A Provides almost 100% protection for up to a year; a booster after 12 months provides at least
another 20 years' protection.
Hepatitis B Now considered routine for most travellers. Given as three shots over six months. A rapid
schedule is also available, as is a combined vaccination with hepatitis A. Lifetime protection occurs in 95%
of people.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Two doses of MMR are required unless you have had the diseases.
Many young adults require a booster.
Polio Only one booster is required as an adult for lifetime protection.
Typhoid Recommended unless your trip is less than a week long and only to developed cities. The vaccine
offers around 70% protection, lasts for two to three years and comes as a single shot.
Required Vaccinations
The only vaccine required by international regulations is for yellow fever. Proof of vaccination is only re-
quired if you have visited a country in the yellow-fever zone within the six days before entering the Mekong
region. If travelling to the Mekong region from Africa or South America, check to see if proof of vaccina-
tion is required. It is only likely to be an issue if flying directly from an affected country to a major gateway
such as Bangkok.
Medical Checklist
Recommended items for a personal medical kit:
» antibacterial cream, eg Muciprocin
» antibiotics for diarrhoea, such as Norfloxacin or Ciprofloxacin; for bacterial diarrhoea Azithromycin; for
giardiasis or amoebic dysentery Tinidazole
» antifungal cream, eg Clotrimazole
» antihistamine - there are many options, eg Cetrizine for daytime and Promethazine for night