Job Discussion Forums

[kaurinz]

Has anyone gotten vaccinated after they arrived in Turkey? If so, where and how much did it cost?

My partner and I are debating whether or not to get jabbed before we fly to Istanbul or to wait and get jabbed once we are there.

[Dedicated]

Vaccinated for what exactly? Unless you are flying in from a yellow fever zone, there are no statutory vaccinations.

[kaurinz]

Hep A and/or rabies

[Dedicated]

In the past, I worked for 10 years in Turkey, and never had a vaccination for Hep A or rabies.

Unless you are going to live in a remote rural area, or be exposed to animals or bats, I doubt there is any need for a rabies vaccination. However, should you be bitten, then you can get yourself along to the nearest clinic/hospital.

If you are going to be based in Istanbul or Ankara, where there are good hygiene and sanitation, you will probably be absolutely fine. Obviously, it is clearly a question of personal choice, but I don't think they are essential vaccinations.

[lucia79]

IMO, it's a good idea to get vaccincated for Hep A and B, no matter where one is headed to. I have two friends who weren't vaccinated and they got Hep. One here in Turkey and the other contracted it on a trip from Turkey to Bulgaria and she had to spend a week in the hospital. Handwashing isn't the best here and many people don't wear gloves when handling your food. I think it's better to be safe than sorry.

Edit: I got vaccinated before I came to Turkey and I got the Hep A & B Twinrix shots. I don't remember how much it cost.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel-health/medicines/twinrix.html

[kaurinz]

Thank you both for your advice and suggestions.

I have done many searches online trying to find a medical centre in Istanbul, albeit one that has info online in english, that also provides prices for vaccinations. Haven't had much luck so far.

We plan on going to 3rd countries after Turkey where the sanitation and mosquitoes aren't as conducive to good health. Hopefully we can manage to get any necessary vaccines done in Istanbul and not have to make a special trip else where.

Unfortunately it is too late/too early to get most of the ones we might need to go to other countries now. I'm fairly confident that we are fully up-to-date with Hep B, and I swear I had my third Hep A shot last year and not my first, so I'm still not sure if I will get yet another jab of that stuff.

[lucia79]

Try Memorial Hopsital and Clinics in Istanbul. They speak English. There's also the American Hospital in Nisantasi, but they are a little pricey.

[PC Parrot]

I got my yellow fever jabs and a load of other stuff at the government health place on the seafront at Karakoy .. it was well priced but I don't know if it's still there or not ... I got other stuff done at the American hospital and yes it was pricey ..

If you're after antimalarials, Larium is expensive there too .. it was running at nearly $10 per tablet back in 2000 and you need a min of 5 or 6 + one tablet for each week you are in the affected area ..

In Nairobi you could pick up a tablet for about $1 each .. and now in the UAE, you can get it for nothing if you go to the right place and tell them you're off to a malaria zone ..

[gloomyGumi]

dont get any vaccınatıons. ıts all hype. the squalıne ın the vaccınes wıll damage your chromosomes and alter your DNA and make you ınfertıle.

The presumed intent of a vaccination is to help you build immunity to potentially harmful organisms that cause illness and disease. However, your body's immune system is already designed to do this in response to organisms which invade your body naturally.

Most disease-causing organisms enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, mouth, pulmonary system or your digestive tract � not through an injection.

These mucous membranes have their own immune system, called the IgA immune system. It is a different system from the one activated when a vaccine is injected into your body.

Your IgA immune system is your body's first line of defense. Its job is to fight off invading organisms at their entry points, reducing or even eliminating the need for activation of your body's immune system.

When a virus is injected into your body in a vaccine, and especially when combined with an immune adjuvant like squalene, your IgA immune system is bypassed and your body's immune system kicks into high gear in response to the vaccination.

Injecting organisms into your body to provoke immunity is contrary to nature, and vaccination carries enormous potential to do serious damage to your health.

[dudeteacher]

I had to have many vaccinations done before going to Asia and some other countries.

I did most of them at the American Hosptial no problem. It's not far from Taksim or the metro. They speak Eng. and are very professional and helpful.

Dude