Immunizations?

[Pitzel]

We are cruising to Belize, Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel with our 4 yo. For those who have been with kiddos -- have you gotten any special immunizations for the trip? Hep A/B? Typhoid? Rabies? If so, how far in advance of the trip did you get them for your children?

 

We are not expecting to be *too* far off the beaten path, but are looking at cave tubing, some light jungle hiking, and interactions with monkeys and maybe other animals.

[Sparkygirl]

I would talk to your pediatrician and specific to what your plans are, we are going to get Hep A and Typhoid for everyone traveling including our 2 year old. We are not going to do Rabies as there is minimal risk in what we are doing. It IS RECOMMENDED for those who are caving.

 

We are on the same cruise itinerary when lunch is included is when I become concerned and want to ensure vaccination.

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Edited November 2, 2013 by Sparkygirl

[flhokie]

Definitely talk to your pediatrician. We vaccinate DD on schedule & wouldn't have even thought of any additional vaccinations for a Caribbean cruise. That being said, we aren't quite as adventurous--wouldn't be going into the jungle, etc.

 

I doubt you would need anything additional due to just the ship's itinerary, but you might due to the activities you have planned.

[cb at sea]

None are required by the countries or cruiseline. If your personal health dictates you should....your doctor is the one to inform you!

[Sparkygirl]

Definitely talk to your pediatrician. We vaccinate DD on schedule & wouldn't have even thought of any additional vaccinations for a Caribbean cruise. That being said, we aren't quite as adventurous--wouldn't be going into the jungle, etc.

 

I doubt you would need anything additional due to just the ship's itinerary, but you might due to the activities you have planned.

 

The CDC travel vaccination site DOES recommend additional vaccines for the Western Caribbean itinerary. I selected the countries and cruise passenger for the recommendations. Honduras, Belize and Mexico all are endemic areas for typhoid and hep A.

 

 

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[flhokie]

The CDC travel vaccination site DOES recommend additional vaccines for the Western Caribbean itinerary. I selected the countries and cruise passenger for the recommendations. Honduras, Belize and Mexico all are endemic areas for typhoid and hep A.

 

 

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We would not eat ashore in those countries & wouldn't be doing any kind of adventurous excursions so personally we would not get additional vaccines as the CDC recommendations are for most and some travellers--depends on plans in those locations.

 

That being said, if we were doing the activities mentioned by OP I would definitely discuss it with my physician & DD's pediatrician and follow their recommendations.

[bearette]

My insurance has a travel clinic that you can call and they will advise you of any immunizations you should get for your travel dates and time. For instance for our canary island cruise itinerary they recommend my 19 month olds receive their chicken pox vaccine early ( usually given here around 5 years). They also recommended hepatitis A for them and me- but they had already had that one.

[Mack2]

Hepatitis A is part of the CDC's recommended childhood vaccines nowadays.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf

 

According to the CDC, kids should get Hep A by 12 months of age.

 

 

Pharmacists can deliver vaccines now, trained for the whole gamut of community based immunizations.

Rabies isn't one of them.

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/vaccine.html

 

For the best do-it-yourself reference, check the CDC recommendations.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

 

Then ask your doctor as to what is appropriate. Take into consideration that you will spend a few hours in each country with bottled water and a tour group... Not weeks. It's a good idea to be cautious, but not fearful.

 

We did that itinerary a few years back... Two weeks after Carnival stopped offering the cave tubing excursion because of a tragic drowning in Belize in the cave. So, we booked it outside the cruise desk. I was concerned about the Arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) they served, but I made sure we were immunized against Hep A and B... The kids were already protected, but it didn't really matter, food was cooked well and very delicious.

Drinks were out of bottles or cans... so that wasn't a concern.

 

Rostand is a former British, English speaking, part of Honduras. A lot of old, retired Brits and Americans live there. I liked it a lot. It rained on us, so I don't remember really eating there. Ate I the ship after zip-lining.

[Mack2]

Now, thinking of my 15 year anniversary, 2 years ago. We ditched the kids with the grandparents and went to an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

 

THAT initially worried me. Malaria... Cholera was popping up in the DR because of Haiti (both countries share the island of Hispaniola)... Never had to worry. We had such a great time.

 

I think if tourists had serious tropical diseases on vacation, it would hit the news and kill tourism... These place NEED the tourism dollars, so they take those extra steps to protect the tourists and their own livelihood.

[Keith1010]

My recommendation is to speak with your pediatrician about the four year old and your own physician for yourselves.

 

My guess is if you are only doing excursions in port the physician might not recommend anything. Let them know if you plan to eat of the ship.

 

Keith

[Pitzel]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I had checked the CDC site, which is where I learned that immunizations were recommended for our destinations. Our DS has his annual check up coming up, so we will ask his pediatrician then.

 

As for me, I have traveled internationally for work and should be current on all if my immunizations, including hep A/B, typhoid, flu, tetanus, etc. Others in our party may not be, though, so immunizations may be in order for some or all of the group.

[Mom2B&Z]

Fwiw we did this itinerary with our boys when they were 4&7 yrs. we did a consult with a travel medicine specialist and he recommended Hep A&B, all other shots up to date and Dukoral (oral vaccine for traveller's diarrhea). We did spend a day at Lamanai in Belize and this was the biggest concern.

Definitely get your own advice, it will be the most pertinent to your family.