# Travel vaccines for MX, how long to work

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-vaccines-for-mx-how-long-to-work/341565>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 25, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-vaccines-for-mx-how-long-to-work/341565 "2006-01-25T16:28:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-vaccines-for-mx-how-long-to-work/341565/1 "2006-01-25T16:28:34Z")

</div>

I _may_ have the opportunity to travel to Mazatlan this year. I will find out Monday.

Being the concerned Mom that I am, I was concerned about travel vaccines. I know that you normally have to get them six months apart if you are planning a trip (for Hep), but I won’t have that luxury.

Does the first shot provide any protection?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-vaccines-for-mx-how-long-to-work/341565/2 "2006-01-25T16:36:22Z")

</div>

For Hep, yeah. The second is just a booster to make it last longer. In Mazatlan I’d worry more about Malaria, and even then, I wouldn’t even really worry.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-vaccines-for-mx-how-long-to-work/341565/3 "2006-01-25T16:45:49Z")

</div>

When I went to Bulgaria I did a course of vaccinations which included: Typhoid, Gamma Globulin (protects against Hep A short term and general immune improver), Polio booster and the first 2 of the three-shot Hep B series.

You may have heard bad things about the Typhoid shot, don’t worry because there is now an oral vaccine which is no biggie (and it lasts 5 years).

However don’t ask us, ask your doctor. If money is a concern, and you live near a major international airport, check to see if they have a travel immunization clinic – usually at greatly reduced cost as compared to private docs.