Vaccinations for Morocco

[BOB UK]

Hi All
We are after a bit of advice here
We are off to Morocco for 2 weeks in September on our R100GS
And it’s about time to think about Vaccinations
We hope to get out and see a bit of the country so might be camping some of the time and will be trying to get out of the tourist areas
My question is what Vaccinations should we have?
I know that hepatitis A, typhoid, polio and tetanus are recommended but are not mandatory
How much of a risk of these diseases is there out there?
I don’t like the thought of having lots of unnecessary injections but on the other hand I don’t fancy getting typhoid

Thanks for your help Bob

[Caminando]

Bob,

No need for vaccinations, any more than you would for Spain, another hot country.

You might need to be vaccinated against human pests and hustlers and aggressive dope sellers though!

See a previous post of mine for cheap accommodation (£8 for a double) in the centre of Marrakesh, on Jmaa el Fnaa Square. Good views of the nightly street theatre, jugglers, storytellers, musicians, conjurers etc etc.

Budget hotels are so cheap that camping , unless out in the desert, isnt really worth it, IMO. Security of gear is an issue - even if you think youre hidden in the middle of nowhere, someone will appear or notice you.

Dont miss Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, about 120 kms west of Marrakesh. Stay in the Hotel des Remparts, shove your bike inside for security. Sit on the roof area and listen to the Atlantic crashing on the rocks below. Buy Ali Farke Toure Cds cheap. Listen to Gnaoua music. Drink mint tea. Eat couscous and tagines, sardine salads. Watch the fishing boats. Check out the rugs and carpets. Feel the sea breeze sort out your bad case of helmet hair. Cry like a baby with self pity at the thought of returning to work.

A salaikum o salaam!

[neil parsons]

I would always advise having the recommended vaccinations,it is not worth the risk of ruining a trip by becoming seriously ill.
If you go to the MASTA (medical advisory service for travellers abroad) website,- MASTA Travel Health - For All Your Travel Vaccination Advice they will issue you with a travel health brief recommending all the up to date information regarding vaccinations etc for you trip.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by neil parsons

I would always advise having the recommended vaccinations,it is not worth the risk of ruining a trip by becoming seriously ill.

Neil,
The hordes of people travelling every year to Morocco, even for family holidays, would still consider it a very personal point of view.

[Peter Girling]

Hi Bob,

The jabs you need are no problem, just 2 tiny injections.
Combined Hep A & Typhoid fever
Diptheria/Tetanus booster

You'll need a Hep A booster 6 months later.

I'm the world's biggest wuss and I was fine! Why take the risk?

Jojo
PSYour GP will have the latest info on jabs, country by country

[Tim Cullis]

I agree with Caminando re camping, see knowledgebase in my sig.

The vaccinations are only suggested, not mandatory. They are similar to those needed for other countries, so if you plan to travel a lot it's a good idea.

In order of importance

Essential: Tetanus and polio
Strong recommendation: Hepatitis A
Recommended: Typhoid, Diptheria, TB, Hepatitis B, Rabies

Some of these injections can be combined, e.g. Hep-A/Typhoid, Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio.

You would need a booster for Hep-A six months down the line. Then a typhoid revaccination after three years, the others after ten years. There's a low risk of malaria, but avoid mosquito bites by using cream/nets.

Tim

[Shells]

If you do decide to get shots before you go, check out which ones your GP can help with (even the ones that they have to charge for can sometimes be cheaper than at the travel clinics), and also enquire about general antibiotics and antimalarial for your first aid kit (if you are heading further south).

MASTA is pretty expensive. I have been there and didn't finish a course of vaccinations because of the price. Instead I went to the 1st Contact travel clinic and was more than happy with the price, the good advice and the ease of stocking up on what you need - they can order medications directly from a pharmacy without you having to be sick to get them (as is sometimes the case with some NHS GPs). So you can order preventative meds before you go).

[BOB UK]

Thanks for all the feed back chaps
In the end I went to practice nurse at my GPs clinic she looked up all the up to date info and asked what we would be doing out there and I had
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Polio

They where all free and they did them there and then just 2 injections with a booster for the Hepatitis A in 6 to 12 months then it will last 10 years

The only other one I might have later is Hepatitis B
This is more for if we have an accident and end up in local Hospital
Thanks Bob

[bmw.bec]

Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood so its not necessary unless you plan to be in close contact with people in high risk areas, but its choice as to wether you have it of course.

Remember its not a single jab so you'll need to plan it and not just leave it until a couple of weeks before.

[BOB UK]

Originally Posted by bmw.bec

Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood

That’s what I thought
But we might end up with blood products after an accident how safe is that?

[Sam Rutherford]

As a correction to one of the posts on this thread:

There is NO malaria in Morocco.

Sam.

[bmw.bec]

If you end up needing blood products after accident then Hep B is the least of your worries!
Don't have it unless you'll die without - not worth risk.

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford

There is NO malaria in Morocco.

It is almost wiped out, but as it's a human disease in which the mossy is just the carrier, it's difficult to totally eliminate (there were 59 cases in year 2000). There's also a small risk of West Nile virus from mossies, but then my friend caught that (and nearly died) in rural Tennessee.

Tim

[moggy 1968]

Although mossies carry malaria wether it is transmittable or not is a temperature dependent thing and as such the risk of catching it in morrocco is virtually zilcho (assuming the mossies in this area are carriers, which I don't hink they are). of those cases in morrocco was it detailed if they actually contracted the disease in morocco, I doubt it. they wil be cases brought in by already infected people, it was then diagnosed in morocco. I would suggest we diagnose about the same number in the UK each year, but they didn't get it here! (although, as mild point of interest there are malaria carrying mossies on the thetford forrest training area in norfolk, but due to temperature it is non comunicable!) There is no requirement for malaria prophylaxis in morrocco.

with regard to therisk of complications from hep B vaccination, they are virtually non existant and I would advise anyone travelling to have it. Hep B is sufficiently robust it can survive on an inanimate surface for up to 2 weeks. it is not just a blood borne disease, it is also carried in faeces, urine and other bodilly fluids, bear that in mind next time you visit an African Toilet!

Ofthe other vaccinations (tetanus, diptheria etc) these are not just for holidays, these should be considered mandatory in the UK, although with tetanus if you have had more than 5 you are considered to be covered for life.