VACCINES
You are not obliged to get a vaccine to travel to Indonesia.
But, there are some that are recommended. In this post you are going to know more about them and why are recommended.
We hope this information to be useful for you! For more information go to your medical center.
Typhoid
Typhoid or typhoid fever is spread through contaminated food or water. It is an acute disease that affects 21.5 million people worldwide. Do I need
Typhoid fever can be fatal in up to 10% of cases. There has been an increase in the number of typhoid types that have become drug resistant since 1989. Unfortunately, drug resistance is spreading throughout the world due to overpopulation, poor hygiene, inadequate infection control, and extensive movement of travelers, commerce and population.
Humans are the only carriers of the bacteria that can remain in feces for 6 weeks to 3 months after infection. The most common symptoms include fever, anorexia, abdominal pain, and headaches.
There are two vaccines that prevent typhoid:
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Live oral typhus vaccine – Also known as the typhoid pill, it is made from live, attenuated bacteria. The vaccine gives up to five years of protection and is approved for use in people over six years of age.
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Typhoid vaccine (injected) – Made from inactivated bacteria, this vaccine provides protection for up to two years. This vaccine can be used in people 2 years of age and older.
The risk of some of the vaccines causing harm is rare, and reactions to any are very mild.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. Infection is usually caused by contaminated food or water. Unlike other forms of hepatitis, A does not develop into a chronic infection.
Symptoms usually appear two to six weeks after being exposed to the virus. This means that the traveler can visit a country and return home without knowing that he or she is infected.
Some common symptoms of hepatitis A include:
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Fatigue
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Little appetite
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Stomach pain and nausea
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Jaundice
These symptoms can last for a few weeks, and severe cases can last for months. Death is unusual.
Contaminated food or water is the most common way to get hepatitis A. Contamination can occur at any point during food growing or preparation. Take special precautions in countries with low sanitary controls.
It is possible to get the disease from close contact with an infected person, including having sex or caring for an infected person.
The vaccine is the best form of protection against hepatitis A.
The hepatitis A vaccine gives the best form of protection against the virus. Most vaccines are given in two doses given every 6 months.
Several studies indicate that vaccines protect you for 40 years or more.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection with potentially severe symptoms. If it becomes chronic it can lead to a lifetime of discomfort.
The two most common forms of hepatitis B are:
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Acute Hepatitis B – A short illness that can occur six months after exposure. It can lead to chronic infection.
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Chronic Hepatitis B – A long-term disease that affects the liver. Approximately 250 million people in the world have this chronic infection.
The hepatitis B virus is contracted from body fluids such as blood and semen. Some common factors for contagion are: sexual intercourse, contaminated needles and direct contact with blood and open wounds.
Sexual transmission is one of the reasons that almost two-thirds of hepatitis B cases are contagious. It is 50% more contagious than HIV.
A hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the virus. Injected vaccines give a lifetime of protection if boosters are made.
Rage
Rabies is a virus transmitted by infected animals. Most cases come from wild animals. But in some growing countries they have had outbreaks of rabies that come from domestic animals. The virus is almost always fatal once symptoms are present.
If you have been bitten by an animal, seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms can take weeks to appear. These may include:
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Tiredness.
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Itching or burning around the bite.
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At an advanced stage: delirium, abnormal behavior and hallucinations.
Rabies vaccination is the best way to prevent the virus.
Rabies is spread when infected saliva enters the blood. Bites are the most common form.
Only mammals can be infected with the virus. This means that birds, insects and reptiles are immune to infection. The CDC has found that some animals are more at risk than others. Be especially careful if you are in contact with:
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Raccoons.
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Skunks.
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Foxes.
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Stray dogs or coyotes.
Several species of bats carry the virus, these are found throughout the world.
The vaccine is recommended based on the traveler's itinerary. For example, if you plan to stay in a country with a high risk of rabies for more than two weeks. It is an estimate that up to 60,000 people die each year from rabies worldwide.
You must receive your first pre-exposure vaccination at least 28 days before your trip. Two more doses are recommended 28 days after the first dose. If you can't complete all three vaccinations before your trip, it's best to refrain from getting them.
Post-exposure shots are given after a bite or other potential exposure. If you think you have been exposed to rabies, seek medical attention immediately.
The timing of the vaccine boosters varies depending on the type of vaccine you received:
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Pre-exposure – Within 7 days after the first injection and up to 28 days after.
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Post exposure – 3 days after the first injection, 7 days after and 14 days after.
If you do not complete all vaccinations you are vulnerable to infection. If you are receiving the post-exposure vaccine, skipping a dose can allow the virus to spread in your body.
Rabies is present on every continent except Antarctica. But some regions have a more latent danger. More than 95% of human deaths from rabies are in Asia or Africa.
Influenza
Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which is spread from infected people to the nose or throat of others. Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for the flu. Anyone can get the flu, but infection rates are higher among children. For most people, the flu lasts only a few days.
The CDC recommends that everyone ≥ 6 months of age receive an annual flu shot.
The flu virus can cause:
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Fever
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Throat pain
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Shaking chills
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Fatigue
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Cough
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Headache
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Muscle pains
Influenza can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or respiratory conditions. It can cause high fever and seizures in children. On average, 226,000 people are hospitalized each year due to the flu and 36,000, mostly elderly, die from the flu.
The vaccine can prevent it. For most people, the vaccine prevents serious influenza-related illness. But it will not prevent “influenza-like” illnesses caused by other viruses.
Influenza viruses are constantly changing. Due to this viral change, influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is recommended. Protection lasts up to one year. It takes up to 2 weeks to develop protection after vaccination.
There are several flu vaccine options available. The most complete influenza vaccine is the quadrivalent, as it offers protection against four strains of influenza virus type B, two and two strains of type A, and may offer greater protection against influenza viruses.
Remember that influenza occurs throughout the year throughout the world due to the difference in seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza illness can occur anytime from November through May. Most cases usually occur in January or February.
These are the recommended vacciones to travelt to Indonesia, but we cannot forget to mention that health officials have reported several cases of measles in travelers arriving from Bali. You should get vaccinated against measles and be very careful to wash your hands.
Dengue and chikungunya are present in Singapore. Mosquito repellents, mosquito nets, and avoiding the outdoors at certain times of the day will give you some protection.
Although health conditions are poor, medical care is available in all major cities, including some psychiatric services.
Make sure you have international coverage in your health care plan or take out international travel insurance. Most hospitals charge up front before performing any procedures.