This is the list of vaccinations suggested by Samaritan's Purse/World Medical Missions foe Haiti - - -
A number of vaccines are recommended for travelers to Haiti. See your doctor before you travel to make sure you have had all necessary vaccines.
Routine: Be sure that you are up to date on vaccines such as...
Tetanus – EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!!!
Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
Diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT)
Polio
Seasonal and H1N1flu
Varicella (aka chicken pox)
• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG): Even if your departure is imminent, one dose of hepatitis A vaccine provides adequate short-term protection for healthy people. For long term protection, a second dose is required 6–18 months after the first dose, depending on the brand of vaccine used.
• Typhoid: There are 2 vaccines available for typhoid prevention. The injectable vaccine may be preferable to the oral vaccine in cases where travel is imminent but is only good for two years. The oral vaccine requires refrigeration and 4 tablets taken every other day over one week but provides coverage for up to 5 years.
• Hepatitis B: If your departure is imminent, the first in a 3-dose series (day 0, 1 month and 6 months) may provide some protection. An accelerated dosing schedule may be used (doses at days 0, 7, and at 21–30 days with a booster at 12 months).
• Malaria: Occurs in all parts of Haiti. Ways to prevent malaria include:
Taking a prescription antimalarial drug
Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites
Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bed net
No antimalarial drug is 100% protective, so it is important to use all three ways to prevent malaria. All of the following antimalarial drugs are equal options for preventing malaria in Haiti: Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), chloroquine, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Each drug has its own side effects, contraindications, and precautions. You will need to talk to your doctor to decide which of these drugs would be best for you. Additional information can be found on the Drugs to Prevent Malaria at www.cdc.gov.
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while in Haiti or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor that you have recently been in Haiti.
• Dengue: Dengue is a common infection in Haiti. Dengue is a disease caused by a virus transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
No vaccine or medications are available to prevent or treat dengue.
The best way to reduce your risk of dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Symptoms and signs are high fever, chills, headache and muscle pain. Additionally, a faint rash on the trunk and upper arms may appear on the second to third day of illness. Treatment is supportive with fever-reducing medicines and fluids.
These are being organized right now - - I will have sore arms!!
