PBH / Colombia / Start Forums▼ (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Health...what vaccines do I really need?

I've read that typhoid, yellow fever, hep A/B vaccinations are required especially in the national parks. Malaria pills? I'd love to hear first hand experiences about health when traveling to Colombia. I plan to be spending a lot of time on the Caribbean coast and entering a couple nat'l parks, possibly taking local boats down the river that leads to Barranquilla...

Also, are mosquitos a big problem?

Thanks!

By seebeauty on May 8, 2007, 12:47 in Travel tips.

adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 10, 2007, 00:06:

It really depends on where you are going.

The trips that I have gone all over (elevation-wise) I think I got at least 3 jabs (yellow fever, typhoid, etc) and the trip where I just went to Bogota, I didn't get any vaccinations at all - Bogota is cool and temperate enough that the risk for tropical bugs is much lower.

I've never been into the bush in lower elevations, so can't comment on the mosquitos..

0 funny, 0 helpful.

getting better says on Jun 20, 2007, 17:00:

Typhoid advised. Yellow fever is very very rare but the jab lasts 10 years. at one time it was required at Tayrona, maybe it still is officially. Hep A advised, Hep B only if you're planning unprotected sex or injecting yourself with secondhand needles. Malaria a difficult decision, read about it on the net. At least take repellent, long sleeves, be aware of the symptoms and the long gestation period. Also read about Denge fever, very rare but increasing, no jab available but be aware of symptoms.

0 funny, 0 helpful.