Hepatitis A

[Kelly1979]

I am going to the Bahamas next March for 15 days and my doctor has recommended having the hepatitis A injection. I am so scared of needles and refused this. She did say it wasnt compulsory as we dont need to prove we have had this immunisation but she recommended it. I dont think I am going to have this does anyone know the risks involved, how likely I would be to contact hepatitis and what getting hepatitis would involve?

[jno]

here is a US website with some links. I would have thought the chances of you getting it in the Bahamas - a big US vacation spot - were pretty small and I personally wouldn't bother with the jab. That would depend exactly where you were going - one of the big resorts, or an out island with nothing but mad dogs and viruses for company.

[nickmo]

Hi. Been there and rec. to have the jag, even if you are in a tourist area. Think of it as insurance. Don't travel without insurance so why risk health for the sake of it? Also, you may find a get out clause in other travel ins. if you have not had all reccommended innoculations....check the small print.

See http://www.nathnac.org/yellow_book/03.htm and scroll to the Caribbean section. Good info for travelling and diseases.

If you are travelling around, get to Andros Island. Grand Bahama is much less Americanised than some others as well, but still good service all round. If you dive, go to UNEXSO HQ. They have an 18' tank to acclimatise if you are learning and access to some great sites.

Great location, dead jealous, enjoy the trip - and if you do get Hep A, (which I honestly doubt) you can sell your infected blood antibodies!

[funnywebsite]

I went to Kenya last year and had to have some innoculations. They were done so quick and I didn't really feel much. I thought it would be like having a blood test but it was nothing like it.

[spudqueen]

I was telling a friend about how ill I was quite a few years ago, too ill to drag myself to the Doctors. When I'd described how I'd been they suggested that I could have had helpatitis A which after looking it up on the internet I could well have had. You can catch it from shellfish or various other things so I would have the immunisation as one needle is nothing to how ill I felt (and for how long) and if you caught it it would ruin your holiday.

[Paul22118]

Kelly there are several issues here. Firstly todays modern injection devices are small, fairly painless and totally safe and sterile. You should not avoid the innoc because of that fear it is unfounded.

Secondly the tropical diseases unit say that hepatitis can be contracted anywhere in the world and Bahamas is not an exception.

Thirdly I have suffered and recovered largely from this disease. If it is recommended even though not compulsory - HAVE IT. If you don't I hope you live to regret it.