Travel Vaccinations in Bang Tao
Plenty of people arrive in Phuket having meant to sort out their jabs and never quite managed it. Others find out after a scratch from a street dog that their tetanus cover lapsed years ago. Travel vaccinations in Bang Tao can be given here, in the middle of your trip, without going home or to Bangkok first.
What we can give here
The vaccines that matter most for southern Thailand:
- Tetanus — the one most travellers are overdue for
- Hepatitis A — spread through food and water
- Hepatitis B — blood and sexual contact
- Typhoid — food and water
- Rabies — both before exposure and after a bite
- Influenza — worth having, and yes, flu circulates in the tropics year round
Tetanus is the one people forget
Tetanus cover lasts about ten years, and most adults have no idea when they last had it. It becomes relevant the moment there is a dirty wound — a coral cut, a scooter graze, a nail through a flip-flop, a bite.
If you cannot remember your last tetanus injection and you have a wound, the safe assumption is that you need one. It is a single injection in the arm and it is inexpensive. We routinely give it alongside wound dressing.
Hepatitis A and typhoid for a food-led holiday
Both spread through contaminated food and water, and both are realistic risks if you are eating widely at markets and street stalls, which is most of the point of being here.
Hepatitis A gives lasting protection after two doses spaced months apart, and useful protection from the first. Typhoid protection is shorter, around three years. Neither replaces sensible eating, but they cover the meal you had no way of assessing.
What these vaccines do not protect against
Being clear about this saves people from false confidence. There is no vaccine you can get here for dengue that is useful mid-trip, and none at all for malaria, Zika or chikungunya.
Dengue is the realistic mosquito-borne risk in Phuket, and the only protection is not being bitten — repellent with DEET or picaridin, especially at dawn and dusk, and emptying standing water around your accommodation. If you develop a fever with body aches, get a dengue fever test and take paracetamol only, never ibuprofen or aspirin.
Side effects and timing
A sore arm for a day or two is normal, and some people feel mildly off-colour that evening. Serious reactions are rare, and we keep you for a short observation period after the injection.
Most vaccines take one to two weeks to give protection, so they work best given early in a trip rather than the day before you fly home. The exception is post-exposure rabies vaccination, which is urgent regardless of timing. Bring any vaccination record you have, and we will add to it.
Frequently asked questions
How much do travel vaccinations cost?
Each vaccine is priced separately, and the cost varies a lot between them — tetanus is among the cheapest, rabies among the most expensive. Ask for a written quote for the combination you want before starting.
Can I start a course here and finish it at home?
Yes, and many people do. We give you a written record with the vaccine names, batch numbers and due dates so your own doctor can continue the schedule.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Thailand?
Only if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is present. Travellers coming directly from Europe, the UK, Australia or North America do not need one.
Can I have several vaccines on the same day?
Usually yes, given in different arms or at different sites. The doctor will tell you if any need to be spaced apart.
Can a doctor vaccinate me at my hotel?
Yes, a doctor hotel visit can give vaccinations in your room, which suits families getting several children done at once.
Come in, or we come to you
Take Care Medical Clinic Bang Tao is open open 24 hours, 7 days a week on Bandon Road in Cherng Talay, a few minutes from Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket. Walk in without an appointment, call +66 81 718 9080, or message us on WhatsApp. If you would rather not move, ask for a doctor hotel visit and we will come to your room.