Vaccinations

[markglt]

Does anybody have an opinion on getting vaccinated for anything before goin to the islands, namely Sint Eustatius

[Japhethi]

Just check what the school says about it.. They tend to know what's going on, since they live there themselves, hehe..


Also, I would make sure my Tetanus shot was not more than 10 years, if anything, as the chances of you stepping on rusty nails&stuff are bigger down there..

Likewise, if you have any kids or anyone else coming with you, I would check with my pediatrician well in advance..

Take care and good luck

[Picard]

CDC has information on travel medicine and specific vaccinations recommended for each country. You may want to try that first.

p

[wcb22]

(i'm getting mine in the next couple weeks, so here it is)

Health Information for Travelers to the Caribbean

CDC recommends the following vaccines (as appropriate for age):

See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) should be considered if travel to areas of questionable sanitation is anticipated.
Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers) or travelers who have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months in Haiti or the Dominican Republic, or might be exposed through medical treatment.
Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
Yellow fever, for travelers going outside urban areas in Trinidad and Tobago.
As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
All travelers should take the following precautions, no matter the destination:

Wash hands often with soap and water.
Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive defensively. Avoid travel at night if possible and always use seat belts.
Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Don’t eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Don’t share needles with anyone.
Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products. Raw shellfish is particularly dangerous to persons who have liver disease or compromised immune systems.
Travelers visiting undeveloped areas should take the following precautions:

To stay healthy, do...

Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an “absolute 1-micron or less” filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. “Absolute 1-micron filters” are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
If you visit an area where there is risk for malaria, take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your doctor for a prescription.)
Protect yourself from mosquito bites:
Pay special attention to mosquito protection between dusk and dawn. This is when the type of mosquito whose bite transmits malaria is active.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
Use insect repellents that contain DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide).
Read and follow the directions and precautions on the product label.
Apply insect repellent to exposed skin.
Do not put repellent on wounds or broken skin.
Do not breathe in, swallow, or get into the eyes (DEET is toxic if swallowed). If using a spray product, apply DEET to your face by spraying your hands and rubbing the product carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.
Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing, purchase a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin or deltamethrin. Or, spray the bed net with one of these insecticides if you are unable to find a pretreated bed net.
DEET may be used on adults, children, and infants older than 2 months of age. Protect infants by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit.
Children under 10 years old should not apply insect repellent themselves. Do not apply to young children’s hands or around eyes and mouth.
For details on how to protect yourself from insects and how to use repellents, see Protection against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods.
To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.

[wcb22]

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm 8)

[jim]

the world health organisation also has a good page, go to www.who.int and click on their travel section.

[markglt]

Thank you all, very very helpful

-Mark