Africa travel- help with vaccination

[Believer7777]

Hey guys, I am traveling to Tanzania in February and need to take vaccinations for the trip. Yellow Fever and Malaria are required, but Hep A, Hep B, and Thyphoid are recommended.

Does anyone know if there are risks to taking this with Hep c?  I have my 12 week PCR today to see if I'm still UND. Any ideas or experience with this ?  I'll obviously ask my Dr. But many times you all know more or confirm his suggestions.

Thanks!

[HectorSF]

I would highly recommend Hep A and B vaccinations. There is no problem having these vaccinations while having hepatitis C. It is done all the time when patients are found to have hepatitis C, to prevent further damage to the liver from another hep A or B virus.

Plus it just makes common sense. Who wants to get another form of hepatitis when there are simple vaccinations available to prevent it?
Wish there was a vaccine for hep C.


Tanzania Travel Vaccination NYC
http://www.travelclinicny.com/tanzania_travel_vaccination_nyc.html

FAQ
Which vaccinations should I get before going to Tanzania?

Before traveling to Tanzania, make sure that you are aware and protected against diseases present in the country. At the Center, we base our travel consultations and vaccination according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization guidelines. Tanzania vaccinations include: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis, rabies, and yellow fever. Boosters for routine vaccines such as MMR (measles/mumps/rubella), tetanus (Tdap), and polio are also recommended. Yellow fever and proof of vaccination is a requirement to enter the country.

Which should I get- routine, recommended, or required vaccines?

The CDC categorizes vaccines into three categories: routine, recommended, and required. Travelers do not have to get all vaccines before going abroad. Tanzania only requires travelers to be immunized against yellow fever before entering the country. Other than that, all other vaccines are merely recommendations and no one is obligated to get them, though they are strongly suggested, as they will offer protection against diseases that are very common in the country. During your visit to the NYC Travel Clinic , our board-certified doctor will determine which routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, and polio) and recommended shots (hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis, and rabies) you will benefit from getting. Determining which vaccine you need will depend on your current health status, past medical and vaccination history, length of trip, and activities planned.

Am I at risk for malaria? If so, how can I protect myself?

Yes. The risk for malaria infection is present throughout all of Tanzania. You can easily prevent this infectious disease by taking antimalarial medication before arriving to the country, while you are there, and for a few days after you come back. Please note that antimalarial medications might or might not be covered by your insurance and can be fairly expensive so you can get cheaper generic versions.

How far ahead do I need to plan in order to receive all necessary vaccines?

It is preferable that travelers get their vaccines two to four weeks before departing to Tanzania in order to receive full immunity against diseases. Even if you are past the recommended vaccination schedule, you should still get a travel consultation, as there are some vaccines that can still be given that will provide you with a lesser amount of protection, which will eventually increase as the days go by while you are abroad. Moreover, there are some vaccines that can be given on an accelerated schedule (i.e. rabies).

Do I need additional travel preparations?

In addition to the necessary vaccines you receive, travel medications should also be considered to prevent or treat traveling conditions such as jet lag, motion/altitude sickness, and diarrhea. Even though we will provide you with antimalaria prescriptions, you should also bring mosquito repellants for complementary and increased protection against malaria infection.

Have fun!
Hector

[Bill1954]

This discusses HBV immune globin used as a post exposure prophylaxis. If I recall correctly its also useful when administered in advance of exposure for a brief period of time, and might bridge the time gap until your HBV shots work their magic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_B_immune_globulin

Of course you’ll want to discuss this with your physician. You might also want to ask for follow up Hep B serology after your series of vaccines; some of us, including myself are unable to develop immunity as a result of the vaccines. I’ve tried twice to no avail...

Have fun travels,

--Bill

[Believer7777]

Fox, i had the same concerns after reading posts. I'll request vaccination for both of those for sure prior. Hopefully I'm SVR and it's a non issue.

Bill, what is this Gamma globin you talked about?

[FoxLair]

I'm surprised you haven't already done the hep a/b vaccines.  As soon as I was diagnosed at Mayo, they had me get vaccinated because if you contract either a or b while you have c....it is VERY bad and probably fatal.  BE SURE to get those

[orphanedhawk]

I've never come up against any problems concerning vaccines and hep C during my travels but I haven't been to Africa, yet.
My hospital, where I see my liver doc, has a travel clinic.
If it were me, I'd check with them just to be sure.

[Bill1954]

There won’t be any issues with the HAV/HBV (Twinrix) vaccine while on HCV treatment; it’s done routinely. However, it’s a six month series and you might not develop protective antibodies by your departure date. Discuss gamma globulin injections in lieu of or in combination with the Twinrix series.

Have fun and be safe-

--Bill