Vaccinations

[n8ter]

What vaccinations did you get prior to travel in Yemen?  The CDC website recommends, among others: Typhoid, Malaria (for travel outside Sana'a) and Rabies.  Did anyone actually pay for the Malaria and Rabies shots?  Seems overboard to me....  Advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!  Nate

[Linda]

Hi Nate,

I didn't get any vaccination prior coming to Yemen. You don't need to get Rabies shots unless you plan to work with animals ( not likely if you are going to be studing at the institute.) There is no Malaria in Sana'a because of the high altitude, but the risk does exist in the South and West. I know over 50 students who came through the institute over the past year and many traveled all over Yemen, and I've never heard anyone taking Malaria pills or coming down with Malaria. If you plan to spend a long time in a remote village in southern Yemen, maybe you should take the pills. But if you plan to spend most of your time in Sana'a and travel to Aden for a few days, you probably don't need to take the pills. Having said that, I'm no doctor, so you should follow CDC's recommendations to be 100% safe.

[finedesign]

Hi Nate-

I'm from USA and will be leaving for SIAL in about a week. It will be my first time to Yemen.

I just went through the process of vaccinations and CDC recommendations. I would check your local health dept for advice. CDC tends to be overly cautious...I wouldn't worry about Malaria unless you plan to visit Africa while you're here.

Here's what I recommend as a minimum:

• Hep-A (Good for life. Full dose with booster takes 6 months...though you can get by w/o the booster)
• Typhoid (get the pills instead of the shot...cheaper and last 5yrs instead of 2yrs)

I'm also getting (Hopefully in Yemen where it's cheaper.):

• Hep-B (Not needed unless you work with blood. But in case of blood transfusion (read accident) I'd like to get it...also good for life.)
• Tetanus-Pertussis booster (Just a good idea.)

Also, you need an HIV test (free from the Health Dept.) before you come. I just found that out!

Hope this helps.

grace and salaam-
paul

[ken]

Hi you guys,

I read somewhere the HIV-test is done in Yemen and the one you have done prior to your arrival is not accepted : is this true?

As for vaccinations : I went to the Antwerp Tropical Disease Center for Vaccination advice and here's what they told me:

(for Belgian citizens, as for US-ones I presume, no vaccinations are mandatory, however : )
- Malaria : pills recommended in case you travel to the south or west of the country - not in Sana'a - good mosquito repellent advised in any case
(take into account that I'll be in Yemen in August, which is just before the start of the "Malaria-sensitive season" that lasts from September to February
- Rabies : not
- Tetanus, Polio and pertussis : recommended, in case it's been more than ten years since your last shot
- typhoid : no
- hep A&B : recommended
- yellow fever : mandatory if you are visiting the African continent prior to your arrival in Yemen.
- diarrea : make sure you bring the usual antidiarreameds and some antibiotics just in case.

hope this helps.

K.

[Linda]

I read somewhere the HIV-test is done in Yemen and the one you have done prior to your arrival is not accepted : is this true?

I seem to remember reading that somewhere as well. But the school takes care of the paperwork for you and I've never been asked to take an HIV test.

[ken]

Linda, so should I get the test done in my home country or not?
gr
K.

[Linda]

Linda, so should I get the test done in my home country or not?
gr
K.

No. I've never heard anyone have to take an AIDS test in Yemen or in their home countries. Those who did, myself included, in their home countries were never asked to present the results.

[ken]

ahah, good to know!
thanks!
gr
Ken

[finedesign]

I concur. I got an HIV test just before I came and never had to present it. Though I still have not obtained my residency visa.

grace and salaam-
paul

[namir]

(Hopefully in Yemen where it's cheaper.)

Hello --

I am currently making preparations for arrival in the fall.  Where in Sana'a can you get vaccinations, and how can I find out which ones are available there?


Shukran jazeelan,
--n

[finedesign]

You can get several vaccinations from the UN office in town. I just got my Yellow Fever vaccination yesterday, and the doc told me I can also get my Hep A booster and others there. Hep A, for one, is harder to get in Yemen because the Yemenis don't immunize their kids for it. It's a childhood illness here like the chickenpox. Hence the difficulty in finding it.

[namir]

Many thanks!
Looking forward to meeting everyone in the fall.

--n