Job Discussion Forums

[blubarsk]

Hey everybody, I am in the process of getting my immunizations before coming to Thailand to try to find a job teaching English. I have a question about Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies. Did you all get these immunizations, how prevalent are these two. They are both extremely expensive and I only want to get them if absolutely necessary. I do plan on being in rural Thailand, close to the Burmese border. Would you recommend getting these immunizations or not? Thanks.

[roguegrafix]

I never had any vaccinations before coming here. I'm told by friends who work with refugees on the border that the hospitals there have all the drugs necessary for the prevalent diseases including cerebal malaria (due to resistance, they limit the drugs available to the general population). Rabies -- probably not necessary. Yes there are a lot of rabid dogs here and the general procedure if you get bitten is to go to the local doctors/hospital for a series of shots. Think it costs about 1,100 baht or so for 5 injections. But touch wood, I've never had anything worse than flu in nearly 20 years here.