Rabies injections for Bali?

[rawlins]

Got my old folks coming over to visit us in Thailand for a month in December. I have booked us all a week down in Bali for a change of scenery (plus it ties in with me needing to do a visa run).

They are sorting out their innoculations for the trip through their local clinic in Scotland and have been told that they will need rabies injections for Bali (at the cost of £100 each).

Anybody else ever bothered getting innoculated against rabies for the region?

I don't think it is needed and didn't plan on getting my missus and daughter any jabs for a week in Bali.

[Strongarm]

Never got ANY needles for Bali, been many times, no problems, just stay away from stray dogs.

[Davis Knowlton]

Never got anything for Bali, or Thailand for that matter. Typical western overcautious overkill, bet the doctor has never been out of Scotland. Sounds like an American doctor.

[Bower]

I was bitten by a stray dog in Cambodia whilst cycling there some years back.
I had been vaccinated so just needed a single booster. Better safe than sorry.

The problem for us chaps from Rip-off UK is that your travel insurance will run away if you have gone against any of your doctors advice, inc vaccinations.

[ataloss]

^ Good thinking re travel insurance reneging; had never thought of that possibility.
As for OP, why not have your parents given rabies shots here in Thailand upon arrival, a lot cheaper than £100 each I'd imagine.

[kingwilly]

I don't think it is needed and didn't plan on getting my missus and daughter any jabs for a week in Bali.

No need mate, not for the average tourist. I'm there on a monthly basis, not been bitten once yet.

[rawlins]

As for OP, why not have your parents given rabies shots here in Thailand upon arrival, a lot cheaper than £100 each I'd imagine.

I think it is a series of 3 injections over 3 weeks and we are heading to Bali one week after they arrive in Thailand...

I dunno... Told them I wouldn't bother getting the rabies vaccination myself.

My old man can't be arsed getting any vaccinations and my Mum wants me to convince him that he needs them all.

The Thai response "Up to you" is best on this occasion I think.

[WujouMao]

As for OP, why not have your parents given rabies shots here in Thailand upon arrival, a lot cheaper than £100 each I'd imagine.

I think it is a series of 3 injections over 3 weeks and we are heading to Bali one week after they arrive in Thailand...

I dunno... Told them I wouldn't bother getting the rabies vaccination myself.

My old man can't be arsed getting any vaccinations and my Mum wants me to convince him that he needs them all.

The Thai response "Up to you" is best on this occasion I think.

Think like a bloke and not like a girl. All this time being in Thailand, have you ever been to some dodgy places and got bitten by anything? Bali wouldn't be the arse end of it. Be no worse than other places.

[rawlins]

Think like a bloke and not like a girl. All this time being in Thailand, have you ever been to some dodgy places and got bitten by anything? Bali wouldn't be the arse end of it. Be no worse than other places.

I agree... I'm not getting any for myself, better half or sprog who all live in Thailand...

But I'm not telling somebody else not to get them... If it gives them peace of mind then they can get whatever the clinic in their home country advises.

[OhOh]

Get them to check their travel insurance. If the UK travel advice advises a jab and the insurance docs refer to this there may be a problem.

[rawlins]

^
Yeah... Have now mentioned this aspect to them. Will probably get them concerned enough to get all the jabs.

[rawlins]

OK - finally made the effort to find an answer online.....

Different sites give different advice :

BALI:

Recommended vaccinations Starting

Diphtheria 1 day
Hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis) 1 week
Tetanus 1 day


Disease Recommendation When to see a doctor
Typhoid Vaccination recommended 10 days before travel
Hepatitis A Vaccination recommended 2 weeks before travel
Diphtheria Vaccination recommended 3 months before travel



THAILAND:

Disease Recommendation When to see a doctor
Typhoid Vaccination recommended 10 days before travel
Hepatitis A Vaccination recommended 2 weeks before travel
Diphtheria *Vaccination sometimes recommended 3 months before travel
Tuberculosis *Vaccination sometimes recommended 3 months before travel
Hepatitis B *Vaccination sometimes recommended 2 months before travel
Rabies *Vaccination sometimes recommended 1 month before travel
Cholera *Vaccination sometimes recommended 2 weeks before travel
Japanese B encephalitis *Vaccination sometimes recommended 1 month before travel

* Recommendations that are marked "Vaccination sometimes recommended" should be considered as "Vaccination strongly recommended" if a person is travelling frequently or spending extended time in that country.
All travellers are advised to ensure that tetanus and polio vaccinations are kept up to date.

[palexxxx]

I've been planning my first trip to Thailand and the innoculations that are recommended here in Australia are Hepatitus A and B, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Typhoid.
They also recommend Malaria tablets.

[hazz]

In thailand the doctors attitude to rabies to to inoculate post exposure to an animal bite. The only people I know who keep themselves permanently inoculated are all vet's.

When I was just traveling to thailand, the doctors advice that I got in the UK was post exposure inoculation. That was 10 years ago; I would not surprise me if that advice has changed, but given the changes that have been made in the way GP practices are funded and managed it would not surprise me if they are revenue chasing.

I would get advice from additional sources within the NHS, I would also check to see what your insurance carrier thinks you should do.

This is the NHS travel guide web page for Indonesia

This is its advice for rabies at the time of posting

Rabies is spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal. Vaccination is advised for those going to risk areas that will be remote from a reliable source of vaccine. Even when pre-exposure vaccines have been received urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite.

Rabies in Indonesia (Bali) (Update)06 October 2011

The rabies situation on the island of Bali in Indonesia appears to be improving.

The health authorities have completed the first round of vaccination against rabies which reached 79% of the dog populations and another campaign is planned for November 2011. An island-wide sterilization campaign is soon to be launched in an effort to reduce the dog population on the island to between 150 000 and 200 00; at the moment the dog population is more than 300 000.

The number of cases of animal rabies is falling; in 2010, 3300 canine tissue samples were tested for rabies virus (144 positive) and so far in 2011, 2311 samples have been tested (67 positive).

The rabies outbreak began in late 2008, in two villages in the south of the island. The outbreak quickly spread to include all regions of Bali and at the peak, rabies had affected 273 villages. At this time, 174 of those villages have recorded no new rabies cases in the last 12 months.

More than 132 human deaths from rabies virus infection have been recorded since the outbreak first began.
Advice for travellers

Travellers to Bali should remain alert to the rabies risk, the lack of rabies immunoglobulin (used for treatment following a bite) and a shortage of rabies vaccine. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination may be considered. Animal contact should be avoided and medical attention sought following any animal or bat bite.

[Bower]

Last night i went to an event during the Film festival here in Bali. The topic of one film was Bali dogs, mentioned was the fact that rabies arrived here again in 2008 after the laws were relaxed to allow expats to bring their domestic pets onto the island. Rabies is now found all across Bali. Of the estimated 600k population of dogs 200k have been culled with strychnine darts and approx 100k dogs and cats have been vaccinated.

You pays your money, you takes your choice !
For £40.00 i had the jabs.