Medical Instructions for iSPiiCE Volunteers
All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic at least 6 - 8 weeks prior to departure.
Summary of recommendations:
| Vaccinations | Description |
| Malaria: Prophylaxis with Lariam, Malarone, or doxycycline is recommended for all areas, except for areas at altitudes >2,000m (6,561 ft) in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim. | Recommended for all travelers |
| Typhoid and Hepatitis A | Recommended for all travelers |
| Polio | One-off booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult |
| Yellow Fever | Required for all travelers arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas. Not recommended otherwise. |
| Japanese Encephalitis | For long-term (>1 month) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk |
| Hepatitis B | For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months |
| Rabies | For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care |
| Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) | Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given |
| Tetanus-diphtheria | Re-vaccination recommended every 10 years |
Though India features certain problems typical of a developing country, there is no need to be hysterical about your health. More than three million international tourists come to India every year and most do not experience anything more serious that a few days of upset stomach.
Additional Health Recommendations:
- Malaria: Malarone - One of the Malaria drugs, is not available in India so, if prescribed, sufficient supplies should be purchased before departure. The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid mosquito bites, so think about bringing bug spray, which is not easy to find in India. Also consider a net for sleeping.
- Asthma: Be sure to bring adequate supply of inhalers/medication if you are a sufferer.
- Sinus problems:- sinus medication (eg sinutab) in not widely available; dust and pollution can irritate sinus problems.
- Intestinal Health:- Antibiotics and stomach calming medicines are available in India. To augment these, some people take stomach strengthening acidophiles pills. If purchased, avoid types that require refrigeration.
- Safe drinking water:
While safe bottled drinking water will be available during your stay, it is advisable to bring purification tablets, which will be helpful in certain unexpected situations.
For further information on India travel health go to MDTravelHealth.com
