AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Do I need vaccines?

They won't accept your blood donation because Belize is considered an area where malaria is present.

My local health dept. strongly suggested I follow the CDC's travel immunizations recommendations. I recently had the Twinrix (Hep.A & Hep. B combo); chickenpox (because I never contracted it as a kid); typhoid, and MMR-Measles/Mumps/Rubella. The MMR was suggested because I am 44 and what once was a single dose now has a second (booster). I chose the Oral Typhoid because it lasts 5 years as opposed to 2 for the shot. I will also get the anti-malarial meds before I leave. I also received a flu shot which covers both types of flu because we travel through and stay in Mexico and usually use public transportation a lot.

BUT... they also said I only needed these if I do not plan on staying in a resort area and if I will be visiting small towns anywhere in Central America. Doc gave lots of paperwork on traveler's diarrhea and how to avoid it. And finally I was asked if we frequent roadside cafes or street vendors. When I said "absolutely" she told me that I needed these with or with the protection of resort living. Clear as mud?

Let me say that I have been to Central America/Belize many times but the suggestions were that the longer I plan on staying and the more remote places we plan on visiting; the more necessary the immunizations.

Hi kmsqrd,

You should be well covered, but since you're playing human pincushion make sure your tetanus coverage is current. This vaccination is country-independent.

Regards,

DocVikingo

Hi again everyone!

Just a quick update: I visited Passport Health here in NJ, and in addition to the Twinrex which I had already started, I got Typhoid and a new Tetenus (w/pertussus). I was also set up with malaria pills and an antibiotic to take with me (just in case). They said I was pretty much set for traveling most places on the globe. They also told me that any additional shots I might need for other locations would require only a few weeks lead time (assuming short, "general vacation-type" trips)

Only two weeks to go!

Don't forget yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Have you packed your snake anti-venom? Do you have medevac insurance? Which anti-biotic did he/she give you? Broad spectrum, gram-positive, gram-negative, or...? How about an anti-viral just in case? One can never be too prepared!

tetanus, hep a & b, mmr, chicken pox (going around right now) are good moves.

typhoid and malaria stuff is less likely but the risk is there.

i see that the bird flu is being talked about again.

Galsmiley, I think what C2C is saying is we're just another vacation spot . It isn't really necessary to do anything special to visit.
Folks tend to freak out and way overdo the health hazard thing .
I dont think you need anything except sunscreen!

agreed elbert. Mrs O. and I did Twinrix for general health, not travel. Maybe I'm being too cavalier, but the other stuff seems overkill just for travel.

Pepper spray for time share salesmen

Not a bad idea at all!!!