Re: Advice wanted: 13 year old daughter travelling to Thailand

[Guest guest]

Our Dr. recommend a slew of vaccines when we were moving to a a very poor, not to sanitary, 3rd world country for a few years. I think it's just common practice for any business to recommend their product, whether it works or not, and even if they don't use it themselves.

Nervously, I did not get any shots for me or my kids. Now, I'm very grateful I didn't since I seriously doubt the efficacy and safety of vaccines. It seems much more practical to wisely nurture the immune system than inject the body with soooo many bad things in 'hope' that it may work.

Curious too that studies are showing that vaccinated individuals are sicker than unvaccinated. Could vaccines actually weaken the immune system?

How great that she gets to go to Thailand, the land of smiles. It sounds like a wonderful trip! Wishing all of the best!

From: tanica72 <tchaplain@...>Vaccinations Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 11:34 PMSubject: Advice wanted: 13 year old daughter travelling to Thailand

HiMy 13 year old daughter is going to Thailand for 11 days next month and the doctor and the rest of the team she is going with advise having immunisations for Hep A, Typhoid and also to take Malaria tablets. She will be going to Chang Mai. She was immunised as a young child but over the past 10 years we have changed our thoughts about immunisations and our last 4 children aren't immunised at all. I am a bit nervous about sending her to a developing country without some protection against these diseases. I have read some horrible things that the immunisations to Typhoid and Hep A vaccine can cause but at the same time I don't want her get the diseases. She won't be having the malaria tablets as she already experiences nausea regularly and I don't want her

trip to be ruined by feeling sick all the time and apparently they are not in a high risk area but still need to be cautious. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

How exciting for her to be able to go to Thailand! I grew up there--it is a beautiful place.  I haven't been back since '99.   I went to school in Chiang Mai, it is the second largest city in Thailand and is even BIGGER now than when I was last there.  Anyway, I would definitely not get any vaccinations if I was going.  I think she will be fine as long as she is careful with food and water. and avoids Mcs, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts and the rest while she is there!  Ha ha.  Just send some charcoal, slippery elm, probiotics, etc with her in case she gets a tummy bug.  Also, getting vaccinated doesn't mean she won't get it.  I went to Ethiopia in '99 as well and I'm sure they recommended the typhoid, but guess what, I got typhoid!  No, it wasn't fun, but I survived.  I would do some research about malaria too, I think there are preventative things you can do (natural).  Not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but I think I've read that mosquitoes don't like peppermint.

Hope she has a great time!On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 2:34 AM, tanica72 <tchaplain@...> wrote:

 

Hi

My 13 year old daughter is going to Thailand for 11 days next month and the doctor and the rest of the team she is going with advise having immunisations for Hep A, Typhoid and also to take Malaria tablets. She will be going to Chang Mai. She was immunised as a young child but over the past 10 years we have changed our thoughts about immunisations and our last 4 children aren't immunised at all. I am a bit nervous about sending her to a developing country without some protection against these diseases. I have read some horrible things that the immunisations to Typhoid and Hep A vaccine can cause but at the same time I don't want her get the diseases. She won't be having the malaria tablets as she already experiences nausea regularly and I don't want her trip to be ruined by feeling sick all the time and apparently they are not in a high risk area but still need to be cautious. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Here's a " travel " article from Dr. Sherri J. Tenpenny that may be helpful.

- Jocelyn

http://EzineArticles.com/?Far-Off-Adventures---Vaccination-and-Foreign-Travel & id\

=564126

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that is spread through contact with

blood. In the US, Hepatitis B is primarily found in adults, and is

spread through intimate contact or through sharing needles used with

illicit drugs. Hepatitis B is more common in the general population in

East and Southeast Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa. Still, the risk of

long-term complications is much less than we are generally led to

believe. More than 95 percent of those who contract Hepatitis B fully

recover, and an infection will result in lifetime immunity for that

person. Unless you plan to spend extended periods in close contact

with infected persons, the risks of contracting Hepatitis B while

traveling is extremely small.

Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the

nervous system. The disease is seen primarily in children under five

years of age; the initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache,

vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. Paralysis

results in approximately 1 to 2 percent of children who contract the

viral infection, though the vast majority recovers completely from

this paralysis. A few, however, go on to have permanent, lifetime

disability. Polio is nearly eradicated. Once common throughout the

undeveloped world, as of February, 2006, only four countries still

report isolated outbreaks: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In addition, there have been no cases of wild polio in the Western

Hemisphere since 1991.

Polio vaccination of children continues in the US, with 5 doses given

prior to entering school, (1) reasoning that until polio is completely

eradicated entirely, the risk of reintroducing polio into this country

is " only a plane ride away. " However, an examination of the data

reveals only six cases of imported polio documented between 1980 and

1998, the last in New York City in 1993. (2) The risk for contracting

polio at home is negligible; the risks overseas are nearly the same.

Tetanus is an acute, spastic paralytic illness caused by a toxin

released from the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The bacterium is found

in soils and animal feces throughout the world. Neonatal tetanus is

the most deadly and the type most often pictured in textbook cases of

tetanus. However, the vast majority of these cases occur following

childbirth and the use of unsterile equipment to cut the umbilical

cord. While other forms of tetanus are a serious disease, recovery is

the norm. In other words, tetanus is not a uniformly fatal disease. If

you are traveling to remote areas, such as the backpacking in areas

without medical care and without clean water, you may want to give

careful consideration to your tetanus status.

However a word of caution: A tetanus shot does not guarantee

protection. In a study published by the CDC (Centers for Disease

Control) in 1997, 13% of people who contracted tetanus had four or

more tetanus shots.(3) Your best protection against tetanus is to

thoroughly clean the wound with copious amounts of warm, soapy water,

and to encourage the injury to bleed profusely for a few minutes.

Apply hydrogen peroxide to clean your wound, followed by a topical

antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.

WHAT ABOUT EXOTIC DISEASES?

When traveling overseas, it is possible to encounter some illnesses

not generally seen in the US. The Centers for Disease Control lists

the following infections as possible concerns for anyone traveling to

any destination around the globe:

Typhoid Fever, an acute, febrile illness caused by the bacterium

Salmonella typhi, is characterized by fever, headache, and enlargement

of the spleen. The greatest risk is for travelers to the Indian

subcontinent and to developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Central

and South America who will have prolonged exposure to potentially

unrefrigerated foods.

Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can vary in

severity from a flu-like syndrome to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic

fever. The disease occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa and rural,

tropical South America.

Japanese Encephalitis, another mosquito-borne viral infection, is

found throughout Asia, particularly in rural or agricultural areas of

the temperate regions of China, Japan, Korea, and eastern Russia. The

risk to short-term travelers to cities is very low. For all of these

potential infections, it is important to obtain a natural mosquito

repellant, one that is free of DEET, the toxic additive found in most

insect repellants. , made by Royal Neem. It is free of chemicals and

contains many natural ingredients.

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that has an onset of fever and

diarrhea, followed within a few days by jaundice (turning yellow). The

disease ranges in clinical severity from no symptoms to a mild illness

lasting one to two weeks. Although endemic throughout the world,

Hepatitis A can be prevented by carefully following the hygiene and

following a few food recommendations :

1. Eat only cooked foods hot to the touch. Avoid eating food from

street vendors.

2. Avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them yourself.

3. Drink only " safe " beverages: sealed bottled water, hot tea, coffee,

beer, wine, and boiled water; avoid drinking beverages with ice.

5. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood (hepatitis risk).

6. Avoid all tap water, and be careful of getting shower water in your

mouth. When dining in restaurants, ask whether the salad greens have

been washed in boiled, distilled or bottled water.

7. Avoid milk and dairy products of unknown refrigeration standards.

WHAT'S RECOMMENDED? WHAT'S REQUIRED?

Although the CDC recommends that all travelers obtain vaccines when

traveling abroad, it is important to realize that, with one exception,

no vaccine is required before you travel anywhere in the world: they

are only " recommended. " You will not be required to have a vaccination

record to enter a country, nor will you be required to obtain vaccines

to return home. The sole exception is the Yellow Fever vaccine, which

may be required if you travel to or from a South American or African

country infected with Yellow Fever. The recommendations can vary from

country to country; if such a destination is part of your travel

plans, you should look up the Yellow Fever requirements for that

specific country. (4)

I have been a globe-trotter for most of my adult life. In the past 25

years, I have had the good fortune to have traveled to more than 40

countries. I have never been asked for a vaccine record, nor have I

ever felt the need for any vaccines, even when traveling to remote,

exotic destinations.

Final advice? Remember to pack your passport, sunglasses and favorite

book. Have fun and don't risk getting sick before you go from multiple

vaccinations.

____________________________________________

REFERENCES

(1) CDC: " Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication-The Americas, "

MMWR 43 (1994): 720-722

(2) CDC: " Poliomyelitis Prevention in the United States Update, " MMWR

49 (2000, RR05): 1-22

(3) MMWR Tetanus Surveillance July 1998/47 (55-2); p.13

(4) The CDC's Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements can

be viewed on the CDC website.

Dr. Sherri J. Tenpenny is respected as one of the country's most

knowledgeable and outspoken physicians regarding the negative impacts

of vaccines on health. Through her education company, NMA Media Press,

she spreads her vision of retaining freedom of choice in healthcare,

including the freedom to refuse vaccination. Her three hour DVD,

Vaccines: The Risk, The Benefits and The Choices , her new book FOWL!

Bird flu: It's Not What You Think, and many other books, tapes and

materials are available at

http://www.nmaseminars.com/rbcDESCRIPTION.html Information about her

medical clinic can be found at http://www.osteomed2.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherri_Tenpenny,_DO

>

> Hi

> My 13 year old daughter is going to Thailand for 11 days next month and the

doctor and the rest of the team she is going with advise having immunisations

for Hep A, Typhoid and also to take Malaria tablets. She will be going to Chang

Mai. She was immunised as a young child but over the past 10 years we have

changed our thoughts about immunisations and our last 4 children aren't

immunised at all. I am a bit nervous about sending her to a developing country

without some protection against these diseases. I have read some horrible

things that the immunisations to Typhoid and Hep A vaccine can cause but at the

same time I don't want her get the diseases. She won't be having the malaria

tablets as she already experiences nausea regularly and I don't want her trip to

be ruined by feeling sick all the time and apparently they are not in a high

risk area but still need to be cautious. Any help is greatly appreciated.

>