March 11, 2011 [VACCINE INFORMATION]
For vaccination lists, we recommend contacting your family doctor or visiting the Travel Clinic at the IU Student Health Center located at 600 N. Jordan Ave. or by phone at 812.255.7514.
Vaccines: All teenagers over the age of 11 should have already had: 1. Tdap (this is the tetanus booster that should be given x 1 to anyone ages 11 to 60’s if they haven’t had a tetanus booster in the last 2‐3 years) 2. Hepatitis A x 2 (at least 6 months apart) 3. Menactra 4. MMR x 2 5. Varicella x 2 6. Hepatitis B x 2 or 3 (as a small child) 7. IPV (polio) x several as small child, boosted after age 4 years Influenza vaccine is recommended, especially H1N1 but seasonal flu as well. Typhiod injection vaccine or oral vaccine: To go to the DR, people should also get the typhoid injection vaccine or oral vaccine; the injection is x 1, the oral vaccine is several doses over several days and can’t be given to anyone who is on antibiotics. Rabies vaccine is definitely optional and is not recommended unless a person is traveling extensively in the countryside or working with animals a lot i.e. working with a vet. However, any dog bite or scratch should be taken very seriously and post exposure prophylaxis should be given if these occur. Any animal should be considered to be potentially rabid. Malaria Prophylaxis: There are several medications that provide protection from malaria; most have precautions for certain people i.e. a person with a seizure disorder should not take chloroquine. Travelers should ask their individual doctors what to take, but it must be started before traveling, continued while in the DR, and then continued for a period of time after getting home. Insect precautions should always be taken i.e. limiting outside insect exposure (outside) during evening and nighttime, using insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin applied frequently, sleeping under a net with window screens closed, etc. Any fever or flu like illness occurring within 3 months of return home should be reported to a physician. Traveler’s Diarrhea: Your doctor may want to prescribe an antidiarrheal medication and an antibiotic to be carried with you on the trip, to be used in case of diarrheal illness, but not to be taken if no such illness occurs.
Updated recommendations can be found at www.cdc.gov.