Innoculations for Kenya?

Can anyone advise me about the injections I need for travel to Kenya in February from the UK?

We're going on holiday. One week beach and one week safari.

Thanks.

Get the range: typhoid, yellow fever (required), tetanus, hepatitus A and B (better get started...these take time), measles mumps rubella. Also, get some malaria meds and start on them as prescribed. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than getting sick and dying right afterwards.

It was actually about a month ago.

And my PC went down. Complete re-install needed so I lost all of my OE files.

Thanks for the reply.

That's one long list of injections. Are they all necessary?

Bobby

If you're in the UK, go to your GP or travel nurse as appropriate. They should be connected to their nearest Tropical Health hospital, so when you tell them where you're going they will be able to tell you what you need, and work out a schedule for you.

They will also take your medical history into consideration.

Far better than getting advice from a bunch of non-medical strangers. Even if I were a doctor, I don't know *your* medical history.

The requirements vary with where you're going, time of year, and local conditions at the time. For example, for our second trip we had to have an injection for a local strain of menigitis (this isn't always necessary). The following year, we were shocked to discover that the wife of our driver/ guide on that trip had just died of menigitis: our injections, at the time 'only' paid c.10ukp each.

If you're outside the UK, check out what your local health services can offer. Failing that, is there a specialist (private) Travel Clinic?

Again, I'm surprised your tour operator hasn't given you this info. Even if you buy a 'flight only' from Trailfinders, visa and health info is supplied on the confirmation invoice as soon as you've paid the deposit.

Slainte mhath

Ouch, too bad about your PC. It seems to happen a lot.

'Necessary' is a strange word, as there are vaccines that you have no matter where you live, and there are those that are not even suggested unless you go somewhere special, like Africa. Probably many of these are not 'necessary', but you don't really know until after the fact, if ever. However, the list isn't as long as it seems, and most are boilerplate.

Yellow Fever: if you visit most subequatorial african countries, you need to show proof of YF vaccine when you get back home. As a result, most African countries look at your YF Vaccine when you arrive, and there are those who won't even let you in without it. Another poster insisted that Kenya does not require proof of YF vaccine, but I can tell you that they read MY vaccination card when I entered about 3 weeks ago. Better to have this document than to try to explain why you don't actually need it as you are standing at the immigration desk, and YF is deadly and ugly enough that you might as well join the 99.9999% of folks here who have the vaccination.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): in the US, everyone gets this in childhood, along with Polio and Whooping Cough. You might already have it or not, but if not, its one of those 'childhood innoculations' that has resulted in longer lifespans of most of the first world. As an adult, mumps can kill you, so if you haven't had this, your physician will almost definately just give it to you.

Typhoid: again, the chances of getting typhus are pretty slim as its almost been eradicated....due to the strong vaccination programs worldwide. But if you DO get it (not likely), you'll die. Its another 'childhood vaccine' that is worth having.

Tetanus: Get it. This is one that you should keep updated every 9-10 years, no matter where you live, and getting a cut on your foot or finger is not worth getting tetanus over. This is in the same category as washing your hands before dinner. Just do it.

Hepatitus A and B: these are the only ones that are merely recommended, and not required. If you are staying in nice lodges, eating clean food and doing the 'tourist thing', then your chances of getting Hep are pretty much nil. If you are spending any time in-country, then its greatly recommended to have these onboard, as you can get very sick for life if you catch them.

So, here is the summary: MMR, Tetanus, Typhoid: standard vaccinations that most first-world people have from childhood, and are worth having if you did not get. Add Polio to this list.

Yellow Fever: the only one that they actually ever ask for in Africa, and for a good reason. Look on this one as your Yellow Badge of Passage ('Hey, cool! You had to get a special shot to go to Africa!'

Hepatitus A and B: optional, unless you spend time around open garbage pits. Like most of subsahara Africans do.

Bobby,

none is legally required these days. For a two week trip it is a bit difficult to find out whether it is worth the side effect risk to get any inoculation. In other words, you can't be sure where the safe side is.

I would recommend to consult a specialist in time, then make up your mind.