Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

I'm considering calling my family doctor before I journey to Korea to see if I'm going to need any shots/vaccinations, et cetera.

Did anyone else take this under consideration before going? Should I expect to get sick, regardless, during my first month there?

[spliff]

See if you can get him to remove that stupid hat they're usually not worn this time of year. Expect to be sick all year if you've never lived in Asia before.

[willneverteachagain]

u wont get sick your first month but colds and the flu feel different though for some reason. Hep A and B shots are a waste of money i think, u have no greater chance of getting that than in any english speaking country. u can get flu shots in korea too no problem at all.

[FXAdam]

[mrsquirrel]

If you don't wear hats all the time you get less sick here.

[IncognitoHFX]

[mrsquirrel]

I have had 20 or so throat infections in the last two years in Thailand.

Had to start using Amoxyclav to kill them off. Buggers got strong.

I have a tickle of a sore throat just now which I am trying to knock on the head with salt water. I would rather not have to try and explain to a doctor here that I need a stronger antibiotic. I think it would be rather hard to get the correct dosage from him.

[livinginkunsan]

[icicle]

Hep A and Hep B are part of normal recommendations for South Korea. As is being up to date with things like tetanus. The US CDC is the International authority on the issue - so if you want read what it says about "East Asia" (My doctor in Australia used it to make sure what was recommended)

There are a couple of other things that they recommend in specific areas or if you have a lot to do with farm animals - including Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies and Malaria. Not an issue in most of the country, or for many of us.

Flu vac I would normally have in any case in my own country - and was lucky enough that this years batch or version of it was released before I left - I would treat it just like I normally would - so if you would normally have it - then have it - if not then maybe not. I am in a group which it is normally recommended for so being in a different country did not make any difference to me.

It is up to you - but I can remember reading some where that Hep A / Hep B were more prevalent , wide spread here than in my home country - so it is at least worth considering based of course upon your own medical history.

Icicle

[mrsquirrel]

Problem Hep A and B is you need to be checked at the end of it to see if it's taken or not.

There are some people like myself who can't be immunized against it. Tried various vaccines and none have worked.

[SeoulShakin]

IncognitoHFX --

If I remember correctly, you are from Halifax, as am I. I went to my family doctor at home, who also happens to be on the list of doctors in Nova Scotia to go to if you are getting vaccinated for traveling. He said that Hep A and B are definitely recommended, as was typhoid. He said that malaria wasn't necessary since Seoul is a big metropolis. Malaria pills are readily available in Seoul, so he said if I'm traveling outside of Seoul to a more rural area in Asia, I can get malaria pills here cheaper than I could in Canada.

If you want the name/location of the doctor I went to, send me a pm and I'll be glad to help out. I believe you can do a google search online for Nova Scotia + travel + vaccinations and you will find the list of doctors and locations to go to.

Good luck!

[mrsquirrel]

I used to know a lad called Randy from Halifax. Randy wasn't his real name though it was James or something like that but he preferred to be called Randy. He came to Korea back in 2003, could still be here.

[igotthisguitar]

Maryland Nurse Died from Smallpox Vaccine Administered
Despite Opposition

A comprehensive vaccine program should include a comprehensive compensation program for those injured.

Andrea Deerheart Cornitcher, 55, a nurse in Salisbury, MD volunteered to take the smallpox vaccination after the Bush Administration unveiled its plan to have all health care professionals vaccinated in response to 9/11.



On March 23, 2003, five days after receiving the vaccine, Andrea had a heart attack and died. The evening before her death, Andrea began vomiting and collapsed in the Arlington home of a friend, but they
thought she had food poisoning. Sadly, they were wrong�she had a heart attack and died during the night.

Andrea was the first of three people to die within the same week in March 2003 of a heart attack after receiving the smallpox vaccine. Virginia Jorgensen, 57, a nurse's assistant in Florida, was vaccinated and died on March 26, ten days after suffering a heart attack. And, Lloyd Clements Jr., a 55-year-old national guardsman on active duty, died of a heart attack on the same day, a mere two days after his inoculation.

After these deaths from heart attacks, the smallpox vaccination program was put on hold

http://www.atla.org/pressroom/vaccinesafety/acornitcher.aspx

[Dome Vans]

Hep A is a one off injection. Hep B is the one that you need to have three shots, first, then a month later and then it's up to the Doc. I had mine done in Korea because I didn't have the time because of getting my heiny over here at the drop of a hat. I think it was cheaper to get it here as well.

Doc here wouldn't give me Jap encephalitis because he said there was no point. They've stopped immunising children here as well.

And malaria is only on the border with the north, apparently.

Tetanus, polio etc are pretty straight forward. Typhoid injection was easily the worst nights sleep ever after it. If that's a taster of what typhoid is like, I'm glad I will hopefully never have it.

[JungMin]