Jabs for Kenya?

[tweenyb]

hiya

please can you tell me what jabs i need to go to kenya and how far ahead do i need to haave them before travelling?

thanks

[mrsann]

It depends where you are going in Kenya but you do need typhus diphtheria and hepatitis.The best thing is to go to see your practice nurse as she or he can advise you on the best precautions to take for your personal needs.Make sure you take lots of really strong anti mosquito spray with you get one with lots of deet in it also you definately need to tale anti malaria tablets usual one recommended is Malarone which you have to start taking well before you go on holiday and leep on taking for four weeks after you come back.Thw treatment costs about �50/60 usually but your travel injections are usually done free of charge at your doctors surgery.Just a word of warning do be careful when you go out of your hotel complex as you will be followed and hassled a great deal by locals who are desperate for handouts most are quite pleasant but very pushy but a few can get really aggressive if you don't give them anything but if you do you will be mobbed and sometimes slightly at risk if you can't go on mainly though it depends where you go in Kenya as I said before.Around Watamu and other beaches below Mombassa are the worst but if you are going on safari only there's no problem at all usually

[tweenyb]

Hiya

Thanks for your answer
I will be going to the Shanzu Holiday Resort in Early June hopefully.

so any advice etc is greatly appreciated!

also does any one know if its ok to scuba/snerkel in this area?

many thanks

T

[Nemesis9]

Hi,
Just recently returned from Kenya and though the above answer is materially correct, you're advised now by the foreign office to have a 'Yellow Fever' inoculation and certificate prior to entry. This is a recent procedural departure, as previously this was only required if entering the country from an infected region.
Yellow Fever jabs cost around forty pounds (including the certification) and I would recommend having it at least a couple of weeks before travel as side effects are possible (It's a live vaccine).
However, no one asked for proof at immigration, so you could always take a chance.
Additionally, Malorone is not now generally prescribed for travel to Kenya due to malaria tolerance. The common substitute offered instead is Doxycycline (Taken every day 1 week before and during travel, and for four weeks upon return), there is a variety which you take once weekly, however there are some issues regarding the extreme hallucinogenic side-effects it can present.
p.s. Don't worry, Kenya is great : )

[Maggoty]

Go to see your doctor or practise nurse. They will arrange for all the relevant jabs etc. The malaria tablets are very expensive, found the cheapest place was Tesco's pharmacy.

Agree with Nemesis - Kenya is gorgeous, one of the nest places I have been to EVER. People are pushy but then their wages are so bad that a fiver tip from you is between 1-4 weeks wages for them. We made one of the "independent" guides are friend/protector and he did a sterling job of shoeeing the others away. So we were left in relative peace>

[joannie10]

yes you have been given correct info I feel from the others - I went to diani beach in mombassa area with 2 friends. They took malarone and had very upset stomachs - i took doxicyclone and was absolutely fine. as mentioned much cheaper but you do have to take for about 4 weeks on your return. I was going on the advice of my practice nurse. Dont think my yellow fever was as expensive as �40. Definately think you should be making contact with your doctors now. I do not know your resort but loved kenya and have lots of happy memories. have you booked safaris etc? very worthwhile although everyone different. If you can fit some childrens socks/pants or crayons and pencils in your case they will be very grateful. I visited a childrens home and cried behind my sunglasses due to the sad stories but i was lifted by what happy and contented people the kenyans are - was the best trip ever. we did find people would engage in coversation with us about our home country and the weather etc then occassionally try to ask for money but did not bother us anymore when we said no - they seem to know that if they hassle you it will spoil it for them all ie visitors would stop going.