> > Dear Chris; > > Did you get any immunizations before going to China? Should I? If > possible please respond a.s.a.p. as I am leaving Tuesday. > > Thanks, > > Bret > >Dear Bret, It is recommended that you have the following innoculations before you come here: 1. Tetnus/DT 2. Hepatitus A and B 3. Cholera Luckily, you can get all of them here at your local hospital for a lot less money. Just make sure that the gamma globulin you get is imported (you may need to go to a friendship hospital) or you can look for a VIP clinic attached to a local hospital (they have spitoons in all of the rooms). The reason you want the imported gamma glob is that it is made from blood products itself, which could contain a nasty surprise. I have had a series done here in Guangzhou and it worked just fine. Two people I know have contracted cholera here, and you should ask if this is something you can protect yourself against before you arrive. I don't know what is available locally, but both of these people had to go home for three weeks to recover. That is what I know. Dr. Chris Barclay (Guangzhou) ************************ Hepatitis A is spread through fecal/oral, waterborn/food outbreaks. It is one shot given one time. Hepatitis B is spread through sex and blood. It is given in 3 shots, the second one a month after the first one and the third one 6 months after the first one. Its an important series of vaccines as hepatitis B can cause liver damage, liver cancer and death.