The Travel Doctor
Traveller's medical & vaccination centre
Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC
Q: We are travelling to India in January until April 2010 with our son who is 4 years old. He has been to India twice before, for similar lengths of time, and has never been sick. He has all the Australian required vaccinations for his age, as well as he received rabies and japanese enchephilitis vaccinations when he was 1 year old as advised.
What about Hep A or typhoid. Is this something I need to consider for a child ?
I also have a strong leaning towards eastern medicine practices and would prefer not to subject my son to unnecessary medical procedures.
Tiina
A: Indeed your son is at risk of these common diseases in India, and we would strongly advise vaccination. Both vaccines are very safe and effective, and both diseases are serious. The hepatitis A vaccine can provide 100% immunity for life after the booster dose, and typhoid vaccine provides about 75% protection for 3 years or so. Typhoid is a big problem in India, but not so much for children below 2 years of age, which is why it might have been overlooked in the past. Given that he had all the other vaccines including courses of rabies and Japanese encephalitis, he doesn’t need any more than hep-A and typhoid. Happy travels!
Dr Conrad
Disclaimer: Information provided in this health column is of a general nature & should not replace specific advice from your own personal Travel doctor-TMVC consultation.
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