To want ds to have vaccinations before hold with exdh

[Thirdtry22]

My exdh has just announced he has booked a holiday to Morocco for 2 weeks time and is taking ds. My immediate thought was that vaccinations would be necessary and would there be time to get them done? I called nhs111 who advised to at least get malaria and HepA done.

My problem is really that both exdh and ds have thrown their toys out of the pram over this, (ds who is 15, has just stormed out, presumably to go and live with his father ) as I am apparently being completely unreasonable about this. Exdh has told ds that no vaccinations are required as they are to be staying on a holiday resort....nhs111 say that vaccinations are necessary as hotel staff who come from outside the resort could possibly carry infections etc.

Ds has got very stroppy saying he just wants to have a good time and I'm trying to spoil it for him, dad knows best etc. etc. I feel I just can't win!!!

Been to Morocco. No need for vaccinations.

As others have said, malaria is not an issue. The only sort of malaria you ever get in Morocco is benign malaria, in the mountains, in IIRC September / October. And even then it's rare.

I would strongly advise getting a typhoid vaccine, and hep A.

Hep B is optional (only really relevant if your DS ends up needing medical care in Morocco). Rabies is optional, and personally I wouldn't bother for a holiday, but your DS does need to be told to avoid the numerous stray dogs and cats which he will encounter.

The biggest health risk is dysentery. This is best avoided by not eating street food, or in anywhere that doesn't seem fairly clean, not drinking the tap water, and never eating unwashed fruit or veg. Do not trust the hotel to have washed it properly. Do not eat any salad. If he wants to eat fresh fruit, either stick to peelable fruit, or take Milton tables and sterilise it first.

I have spent lots of time in Morocco, as have my young children, including a year living there. Nobody had had any major health issues at all, but we were scrupulous about food hygiene.

Healthcare is not great, especially outwith the major cities. Make sure that they have good travel insurance.

Ps. The reason I said all that us that I will avoid all anti - malarials for my family unless in a very remote high incidence place due to personal experience. I would not want my 1.5 yr old near those drugs if I could avoid it. So if you don't really need them for Morocco (and all the people I know who have gone to Morocco never needed them) steer clear.

You can find a lot of info on the CDC website.

Basically, depending on whether they stay only in the resort or will go on other trips:
Hepatitis B and Typhoid
Hepatitis A and Rabies

Is your ds very scared of vaccinations? An experienced doctor or nurse can vaccinate in such a way that you barely feel a thing. Your Ex DH is totally irresponsible of course.

OP I think the pair of them have decided you are peeing on their bonfire by mentioning vaccines before the holiday. Your ex is behaving really poorly by playing your son off against you - nasty piece of work. Any DF with an ounce of sense would send him back home.

Ps. The reason I said all that us that I will avoid all anti - malarials for my family unless in a very remote high incidence place due to personal experience. I would not want my 1.5 yr old near those drugs if I could avoid it. So if you don't really need them for Morocco (and all the people I know who have gone to Morocco never needed them) steer clear.

Firstly make absolutely sure the treatments are recommended for the region. Secondly I would say to your son that having his hep shots will have him covered for some of the very cool places he may wish to go in the next 10 yrs so they are worth getting done now anyway. As for Malaria, you cant get vaccinated. You can take various sets of tabs, different prices and differing stats for psychosis and other side effects but i would avoid where at all possible. I would never recommend someone not to take them as malaria can be fatal. But these drugs can be very dangerous too and people don't read the small print so just be informed of the risks with taking and not taking and balance that with the prevalence of malaria in the destination. Someone will come on and say that Malarone is safe but expensive but that is simply wrong. It just has less incidences of psychosis than larium.

Firstly make absolutely sure the treatments are recommended for the region. Secondly I would say to your son that having his hep shots will have him covered for some of the very cool places he may wish to go in the next 10 yrs so they are worth getting done now anyway. As for Malaria, you cant get vaccinated. You can take various sets of tabs, different prices and differing stats for psychosis and other side effects but i would avoid where at all possible. I would never recommend someone not to take them as malaria can be fatal. But these drugs can be very dangerous too and people don't read the small print so just be informed of the risks with taking and not taking and balance that with the prevalence of malaria in the destination. Someone will come on and say that Malarone is safe but expensive but that is simply wrong. It just has less incidences of psychosis than larium.

Definitely check with the doctor. I thought I would need vaccinations for Thailand but the areas I was going to weren't risky so didn't need anything.

I don't remember needing any vaccinations for morocco about 4 years ago but I'd already had some for other trips. Your son and ex are both being childish, no wonder you're upset.

Update - I'm pleased to report that our doctor has been consulted and recommended Hep A, Hep C, TB and typhoid tablets, all administered. So we have a relieved OP, and a ds looking forward to his hols. I will still advise him to be careful re what/where he eats, and not to touch any stray animals he might encounter. Thanks for all the good advice and comments. My exdh is still an immature arse unfortunately, lol.

Glad it is sorted but TB vaccine seems an odd suggestion and there is no vaccine for hep c. Hep a and typhoid v sensible though. Hope he enjoys his holiday!

just one more thing - the advice is to stay clear of ALL mammals, not just strays. Rabies isn't on every street corner but it is there.

hope he has a good time!

YANBU.
My cousin has Hep A from food contamination in a foreign country. He can never drink again and its caused other health issues.
Stupid stupid exDH for not backing you up.

How much did the Dr charge for all that?

There was no charge I'm glad to say. Doctor said there was a tb risk? So many injections/tablets Im confused as to what went where, lol. Ds is like a pin cushion! Just relieved it's all sorted.