Should I still try to get vaccinated for Thailand?

Upvote:2

Typhoid and Hep A? The big way you get these is by drinking the water, and don't drink the f****kng water.

Seriously. First of all, you should only drink tap water in your home country (if there). Even in a First World country, you just are not used to the flora in the water unless you grew up in the country.

And, Thailand is not, repeat not, a First World country. The really expensive hotels will tell you the water is filtered, and who knows, maybe it is. Don't drink it anyway.

It is possible to get it from contaminated food, less likely simply because you eat less food. Follow ordinary food-safety rules and you'll be fine:

  1. Don't eat the outside of food (no apples, no grapes)
  2. Don't eat ground meat unless you are sure it has been very thoroughly cooked
  3. Don't eat anywhere you cannot see them cooking. More people are poisoned at fancy hotel restaurants than at road-side stands.
  4. Don't eat where you see white people eating. Eat where you see lots of locals eating. They are there for a reason.

Upvote:3

Where are you going in Thailand? If you can still get them, I'd suggest getting them just for peace of mind. However, consult with your GP as some of the vaccines take some time to be effective and might require multiple visits to the doctor. Or you might just need a booster.

I'm from Thailand and here's the advice I can give you. Don't drink tap water. It's not drinkable and bottled water there is cheap. If you're afraid of mosquitos then get the best spray you can find. Street food is great over there but if you're not sure about the cleanliness you can stick with restaurants.

If you're going to be in Bangkok only, I think it's relatively safe. But if you're going to be camping outside of Bangkok then you should consult your doctor.

And be aware of stray dogs, there are plenty there. If you don't approach them, they won't bother you.

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