| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 04:59 PM UTC
best for you is to visit the travel clinic in the UK and ask about any possible vaccinations you might need to get.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 05:40 PM UTC
Asking us amateurs here on VT medical questions? I agree with suggestion to visit a travel clinic.
That being said, Cancun is a popular winter travel destination for us North Americans. Most of the people that I know that have gone there wouldn't dream about getting any special vaccinations. If you plan to stay on the resort you will probably be told not to worry, but if you head off and out to see the other areas, such as the Mayan Ruins, the answer might be different.
Other than getting sunburned, the most common complaint I've heard is that people get the "tourista". i.e. travller's diarreha.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 05:45 PM UTC
Resorts in Cancun are very clean and they have their own water purification systems and use ice that they buy from safe sources. I've never gotten injections for Cancun--however, if you decide not to, just be very aware if you eat off-resort, this won't be the case and be careful.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 05:54 PM UTC
Thanks to the NHS, in the UK you do *not* need to travel to a specialist (and private, and expensive) travel clinic.
Your own GP is perfectly capable of both advising you and providing the relevant inoculations etc (you will have to pay for some).
You can check what is advised on the NHS site here:
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/north-america/mexico.aspx
If you do not wish to use your GP (appopintments???) then the Nottingham and Milton Keynes branches of Boots offer inoculations etc. But they, of course, (just like private travel clinics) do not have access to your personal health records...and that may make a difference to what is advised.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 06:10 PM UTC
Hello Michelle. The ONLY shots you need are TEQUILA SHOTS.
Go to COBA. Only place you can climb a Pyramid that breaks above the jungle tree top. Suggest you take bicycle taxi in to foot of pyramid and climb it. THEN, walk back out of the park (about 2K). This way you are fresh for the climb and see the rest of the park on your way back to your car. And YES, I highly suggest you rent a car and drive yourself to COBA and CHICHEN ITZA. Its safe and easy. It gives you the freedom to do so much more at your pace.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 06:28 PM UTC
I suggest you follow the advice given on the NHS website, and make an appointment to discuss your needs with either your GP (preferably, as he/she knows your personal health records) or a private travel clinic such as Boots.
Although nothing 'extra' is required much depends on when you had your last e.g. tetanus booster and whether you had all the basic immunisations (such as Hep A, always a good idea when travelling outside Europe) when you were younger.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 07:25 PM UTC
Thank you all.....I have taken your advice onboard and just to be safe, I shall make an app with my GP !!!
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 07:30 PM UTC
I am very pleased to hear it.
In the UK, your GP is by far the best placed to offer all travel health information relevant to your personal health circumstances and proposed visit. Unlike other countries, our GPs are kept fully up-to-date and are knowledgeable about what is required. An additional plus point is that you will not necessarily have to pay for inoculations if you use your GP (Hep A, for example, is free); you would have to pay for *everything* (including the consultation) if you were to use one of the private travel clinics (which are pretty few and far between anyway, for obvious reasons).
Enjoy your trip! :-)
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Fri June 10, 2011 11:34 PM UTC
> The ONLY shots you need are TEQUILA SHOTS.
Love it!! :-D I've been to Cancun twice (1995 from the US and 2007 from MY) - the thot of injections of any kind never crossed my mind! Can't even recall when was the last time I had any injection!! I did wonder if I needed yellow fever vaccination for S America (by the time I was leaving for it and so, never, did!).
I really marvel at people who take all the necessary injections to stop infections :-) They are so organised! I'm running to the gate at times!! Argh!
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sat June 11, 2011 05:02 AM UTC
God! When was the last time I had a tetanus shot?? I think it was 1979 ;-) In MY they are given in response to an accidental injury/not in anticipation..
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sat June 11, 2011 05:40 AM UTC
Re tetanus: in the UK, as with diptheria, polio etc, one usually has a basic course in early childhood, with some boosters as an older child. Then, as in MY, they are given if required. Not everyone has all the childhood courses; there is no compulsion and not all parents allow it.
The NHS advice is to check immunisation is up to date i.e. that the basic course + relevant boosters has been completed. This is why going to one's GP is useful, as he/she has the relevant records. A tetanus inoculation would not be automatically given pre-travel, other than to those who have not already had or completed the course.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sat June 11, 2011 01:04 PM UTC
Not a doctor, but have been told by more than one that protection from hep A is a good idea, even if you are only going to your local beanery. Definitely Tequila shots and Coba!
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sun June 12, 2011 03:05 AM UTC
Never had Hep A vaccination but that's useful if you are into sea food - mussels and cockles (or was it cockles and mussels?) ;-) Hep A is an enterovirus, after all :-) And catching hepatitis is no joke from what I've heard :(
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sun June 12, 2011 03:06 AM UTC
Thanks, leics! For the informative update, as usual! :-)
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sun June 12, 2011 06:18 AM UTC
I thought it was worth clarifying because every country has different policies and procedures re basic inoculations etc. As the OP is from the UK it made sense to explain how we do it here ...which is not necessarily the same way as it was done in the past, so there are age differences too. Someone of my age may require different boosters/whatever to someone in their 20s. Hence the advice to go to the GP, who has the appropriate records (no-one else does) as well as all the data/info and access to the vaccines. :-)
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Sun June 12, 2011 08:20 PM UTC
Right! :-)
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Mon June 13, 2011 06:47 PM UTC
Hi THIS IS A STAB IN THE DARK, BUT DO ANY OF YOU KNOW HOW FAR AKUMAL IS FROM CANCUN AND IS IT A GOOD RESORT? YOUR PREVIOUS ADVICE FAB X
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Tue June 14, 2011 03:04 AM UTC
Its half way between Playa del Carmen and TULUM. So its on your way to the SEA PYRAMID. A MUST see. Take your bathing suit and swim next to pyramid. As for Akumal, its a great place to stop and have some drinks under the Palapa. Small and not crowded last time there.
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| Cancún |
Re: INJECTIONS TO STOP INFECTIONS ....PLEASE NO!!!!! Posted: Tue June 14, 2011 06:21 PM UTC
Sometimes a resort will say that it's in Akumal but it's really in Puerto Aventuras. Puerto Aventuras is okay, but mostly a retirement community and boring as hell at night.
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