(Un)necessary Vaccinations Guide

Shots Before Shots: A Slightly Panicked Guide to Vaccines for Thailand  

So, you're planning a trip to Thailand, land of mouthwatering street food, breathtaking beaches, and tuk-tuk drivers who think they're in a Fast & Furious movie. But before you start daydreaming about pad thai and full moon parties, let's talk about something less exciting but super important: vaccines.  

Because nothing ruins a vacation like realizing your immune system is about to go to war with a bunch of microscopic invaders.  

Do I Even Need Vaccines? I'm Just Hitting Bangkok and the Beaches  

Good news! Thailand isn't some disease-ridden wasteland (unless you're planning to wrestle monkeys in the jungle). But there are a few shots your doctor will probably suggest unless you want to play Russian roulette with your digestive system.  

The Usual Suspects (Vaccines You Might Already Have)  

Hepatitis A & B - The classic "better safe than sorry" duo. Hep A comes from questionable food choices (looking at you, mystery meat skewer), while Hep B is more about blood and body fluids (so maybe rethink that spontaneous tattoo in Chiang Mai).  

Typhoid - Because spending your vacation with a fever that makes you hallucinate isn't as fun as it sounds.  

Tetanus - If you haven't had a booster in the last decade, now's the time. Rusty nails and scooter accidents don't care about your travel itinerary.  

Wait, Do I Need Rabies Shots? 

Only if your trip plans include:  

- Petting every stray dog (they're cute but unpredictable)  

- Making friends with monkeys (they WILL steal your snacks and might bite you)  

- Exploring bat caves (are you secretly Batman?)  

Rabies vaccines are expensive and involve multiple shots, so unless you're planning to become Thailand's next wildlife whisperer, you can probably skip it. But if an animal that's foaming at the mouth and stares at you with rabid eyes does bite you, you might want to get to a hospital after cleaning your wound as rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms start. The good news is that you can get the rabies shots in Thailand without having to take out a personal loan (same goes for all vaccines actually).

What About Malaria, Dengue, and Other Scary Words?  

Malaria - Rare but still present in some remote rural areas near borders. In other words, places you'll never visit anyway. Stick to cities, beaches and the beaten mountain paths? You'll be fine.  

Dengue - The real threat. Mosquitoes here treat tourists like all-you-can-eat buffets. Load up on repellent and try not to itch. But don't fret too much as it's usually not deadly.

Zika - Still around but mainly a concern if you're pregnant or planning to be. FYI, not many cases have been recorded in Thailand.

Do I Need COVID/Japanese Encephalitis/Cholera Shots?  

Jeez no. I mean, perhaps. Or perhaps not.

COVID - Check current rules, but these days it's more about personal risk and vaccination is optional.

Japanese Encephalitis - Only if you're spending weeks in rural farming areas. So skip it unless you're planning to start pig farming near the Burmese border.

Cholera - Extremely rare for travelers unless you're determined to drink from questionable puddles.  

The Bottom Line  

1. Visit a travel clinic - They'll tell you exactly what you need based on your plans. Or don't and just read this guide and tell them what you want.

2. Get the basics (Hep A/Typhoid/Tetanus) - These are no-brainers. There's a good chance you already have them. Or don't get them. Live dangerously. YOLO! (wait, what?)

3. Consider rabies if you're an animal magnet. Or just admire the animals from a safe distance. Or get treatment in Thailand after you've been bitten.

4. Mosquito defense is mandatory. Malaria risk is very low, but dengue doesn't care about your Instagram plans. But rather than vaccines, it's DEET and long-sleeved shirts and pants that will protect you.

5. If you're one of those (looking at you, anti-vaxxers), spare your faux outrage as you can enter Thailand perfectly fine without any vaccinations (except yellow fever if you come from an infected area - list here).

6. If you're from a country where vaccines are more expensive than bars of gold (cough cough USA) but you still want to get vaxxed, you could consider getting the vaccines in Thailand. Bangkok has plenty of hospitals and clinics that can administer any vaccine for a a fraction of what you would pay back home.

Remember: The best vaccine is common sense. Don't lick random surfaces, avoid meat or sushi that's been sunbathing all day, don't pet Cujo and maybe skip swimming in questionable water.  FYI the majority of locals have probably never been vaccinated but somehow still survive to this day.

Now go get your shots (or not) and prepare for an amazing trip where your biggest health concern will be whether you can handle real Thai spice levels (spoiler: you can't).  

Happy travels! May your immune system be strong and your street food choices be wise.