If you are planning a trip to Asia you need a few vaccines. Most common are DTaP (DTP), Hepatitis A & B and typhoid. The last one is recommended when travelling in India. Hepatitis B is only necessary when you are staying in Asia longer than three months. The article is intended to give you an overview of recommended vaccines when travelling in Asia. Besides the vaccines I explain a few diseases and common health problems when travelling. Nevertheless, I recommend consulting an expert or doctor to make sure which vaccines are necessary when travelling to Asian countries.

Vaccines for Asia

When travelling to Asia vaccines are not mandatory but a few are highly recommended. The vaccines listed below are advised when travelling to Asian countries:

• DTaP vaccine: is a combination vaccine to protect against infections caused by diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and poliovirus. The vaccine needs to be repeated every 10 years.
• Hepatitis A: adults need two shots. It depends which vaccine is available in your country but the second shot is given 6-12 months after the first shot. The two dose vaccine is good for at least 20 years.
• Hepatitis B: In Europe the Hepatitis B vaccine is given in three shots within a 6-9 months time period and is good for 10 years. Often recommended when you are travelling in Asia longer than three months.

Tip: I’m travelling for years and my advice is to see a doctor as soon as you have a fever.

Vaccines for India

Experts highly recommend getting a vaccine for typhoid when travelling in India. Typhoid is very common in India. The infection is often passed on through contaminated food and water, and where washing hands is less frequent. Typhoid causes diarrhoea, vomiting and a high fever. Typhoid can be fatal and risk of death is higher without treatment.

I ended up having typhoid when travelling in India and probably got infected the first week visiting India. From my own experience I can tell it takes time to recover. Luckily, I had moderate symptoms but still needed three weeks to recover. The good thing is you built up a resistance to typhoid. It stays in your system for a year, sometimes longer.

• Typhoid: Most people don’t know the vaccine only provides 70% protection to typhoid. The vaccine is good for 3 years.
• Plus the vaccines in the paragraph above, Vaccines for Asia

Food poisoning and diarrhoea

The largest health threat when travelling in Asia is drinking uncooked and contaminated water. Drinking tap water is not done when you are in Asia, except in Singapore. Drink bottled water or filtered water. In India you even have to be careful with filtered water. Indians drink filtered water but foreigners often get sick anyway. I have travelled in India five times and built up a resistance for it. I don’t easily have diarrhoea. Not anymore anyway. Be careful with ice cubes in your drinks because they often use unfiltered water. Safest to drink is tea. Meals should be warm when you start eating. Only eat unpeeled fruit.

The most common issue is diarrhoea. The causes are fatigue, change of climate and food. Drink enough fluids like tea, try to eat less and be careful with using Imodium. If you prefer to cook your own meals wash the vegetables with an iodine solution, available at pharmacies and supermarkets.   

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by a mosquito bite. The mosquitos are common in warm and tropical climates. Symptoms occur 4-10 days after the bite. Symptoms are fever, headaches, pain in muscles and joints, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. There is no vaccine for dengue fever or a specific treatment. Paracetamol is recommended to lower the fever. Wear clothes to cover your skin and apply mosquito spray on your face, feet and hands.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a mosquito-born disease and transmitted when infected mosquitos bite humans. The mosquitoes are active during the day and breed in forests, jungles but also around houses. Yellow fever is capable to cause an epidemic and so a serious threat to global health. There are countries that require a yellow fever vaccine BEFORE entering that specific country. When you are not vaccinated you are denied entry into the country.

Symptoms are fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain. Vaccination is the most important measure for preventing yellow fever. Visit the website of the World Health Organization (WHO) to learn more about yellow fever, treatment and symptoms. Check the list of countries that require a yellow fever vaccine.

Malaria

Travellers are at risk of malaria infection in mainly Africa, Asia and the Americas. The cause is a parasite that is transmitted by female biting mosquitoes. Symptoms are a high fever, sweating heavily, cold shivers, headache and nausea. First symptoms can appear after 7 days.

Medication provides a reasonable protection but other preventive measures are as important. The mosquitoes are active at dusk and dawn. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts and use mosquitoe spray with DEET on your face, feet and hands.

Visit the website of the World Health Organization (WHO) to read more about malaria, the symptoms and treatment.

International Certificate of Vaccination

Make sure you get an International Certificate of Vaccination. The certificate looks like a yellow passport. All vaccines are written down in your ‘health passport’. The doctors write down which vaccine (DTap, Hepatitis A & B,…), name of the vaccine (producer) and the duration of the vaccine. It’s helpful for you to check when the vaccinations needs to be repeated. In case you get sick when travelling abroad you can take the certificate with you when consulting a doctor.

Dutch and Belgian Nationals

Check the required vaccines before travelling to Asia and India. For Dutch citizens I recommend to contact the GGD Reisvaccinaties, Travel Clinic or your doctor.

Belgian citizens can visit the website Wanda of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp to check the required vaccines. This website is also helpful for general travel information. The website is available in Dutch, English and French.

In The World’s Jungle Travel Blog

Looking for inspiration about places to visit in India? Explore the historical city and ruins in Hampi, admire the colonial architecture in Kochi, visit the capital city of India, Delhi, go east and travel to the UNESCO- village of Mahabalipuram or visit the magical palaces of Rajasthan.

Planning a trip in Asia? Read the Beginners Travel Guide about the land of smiles, Thailand, visit the city-state of Singapore or admire the jungles of Borneo in Malaysia. Are you interested to learn more about religions and Asian cultures? Start with the Beginners Guides to Hinduism and Buddhism. Enjoy.

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