A few months ago, I booked a trip to India on what became known as the Emirates Mistake Fare. JFK to Delhi for $226 is not shabby! I knew I would be paying more for travel vaccinations then the flight, which is pretty mind-boggling if you ask me.
It seemed inevitable that I would be paying over $500, but through some careful work, I am paying only a fraction of that – for the same quality vaccinations and with much less time spent in waiting rooms!
Please note, I am not a doctor and no information contained herein should take the place of consultation with a medical practitioner. However, once you know what you need for an upcoming trip, it is possible to do your own research to obtain the medications and vaccinations at an affordable price.
Since my travel is to India, my first step was to look up the recommendations for travel to India issued by the CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
The CDC lists three categories of recommendations:
- All travelers – You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel.
- Most travelers – Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
- Some travelers – Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.
The CDC lists these vaccines as recommended for some travelers: Hepatitis B, Malaria, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever. I will only be visiting two cities, no rural areas, and my stay will be short, less than one week. The only medication from this list which I might need is Malaria Prophylaxis. Though it is not rainy season (i.e., mosquito season), I’ve decided to err on the side of caution and take it.
I initially asked my internist about travel vaccinations, but she quickly informed me she does not handle that. She referred me to a practice specializing in travel medicine. They do not accept insurance. They charge approximately $125 fee to walk in the door, and $125 for each vaccination. Thus, getting the Hepatitis A vaccine (2 shots) and the Typhoid vaccine, would cost a minimum of $500. The price to go to other Travel Doctors is New York City is comparable. I did some research and asked friends for advice. There’s a free clinic somewhere in the middle of Brooklyn, but you have to sit and wait for hours and then fudge it and say the vaccine isn’t for travel. I wasn’t comfortable with that. Others recommended university clinics, or getting vaccinated out-of-state and/or out of country.
I was under the (mistaken) impression that none of the vaccines were covered by my insurance. Then I phoned my health insurance company (something I should have done immediately after looking at the CDC website!). VOILA! I found out that:
- Hepatitis A – The Hepatitis A vaccine is covered under my insurance plan – so getting the shot from a participating medical provider might cost only a co-payment, rather than $250.
- Typhoid – The typhoid vaccine, which can be administered either by injection or orally, is not covered by either my health insurance or my prescription medication plan.
- Malaria -Malaria prophylaxis medication is covered by my prescription medication plan.
Regarding the typhoid vaccine, it does not appear that one form is better than the other. (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
Malaria prophylaxis medication (more pills), which is covered by my insurance, costs only $5 on my plan.
I learned that some Duane Reade Pharmacies (Walgreens) have Walk-in facilities. These Walk-in centers do participate in my insurance plan. Yesterday morning, on my way to work, I stopped in at the Duane Reade right near my subway station. The receptionist asked me to fill out forms, and then I went into a clean medical room where I met the nurse practitioner. After some review, she administered the Hepatitis A vaccine and called in a prescription for the pills for the Typhoid Vaccine and Malaria Prophylaxis to my pharmacy.
The cost – nearly $80 for the Typhoid and Malaria pills. I was not even charged a $20 co-pay for the Walk-In visit and the Hep A shot, but I think that might still be a possible charge.
It took me a lot more time to write this post than to get vaccinated!
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
The fact is you do NOT NEED ANY of this. Carrying Malaria pills is at best, a Maybe. If you do catch malaria, you will get very high fever, 105 degrees F is common. In that state, you will DEFINITELY need to go to a local clinic to get a blood test for the malaria parasite and they will give you FREE medicine. Anyway, malaria medicine all over South Asia comes for pennies, without prescription.
Hep A and Typhoid – the vaccines do nothing. Just pray you don’t get it. The best prayer is STAY AWAY from ALL sources of drinking water that are not verified. Just buy a good brand of bottled water from a good store – ask the locals. And do not consume ANY uncooked food. You will be just fine.
This is the worst advice possible with no medical or scientific basis. If you can prevent something, it is far better than getting the disease and treating it. Each major illness takes significant toll on your body. Do you want to spend another 2 weeks of your “vacation” in a hospital or recovering or do you want to pay a little cash and be back at work?
I went to Kenya and Tanzania in 2012; one of both of them technically required the yellow fever vaccination. I say technically because they never asked for my certificate. Their concern is people bringing it into the country, not catching it while there. Anyway, that was the first time I’ve needed a travel vaccine since I was a toddler in 1974, and wow, travel medicine clinics are abominably expensive. I checked out a few options and went to a Walgreens 20 miles away because they had a staff member certified to administer that one. Total was $126. I was looking at $175-$275 going anywhere else for it.
The oral Tyohoid lasts for 5 years. The shot lasts for 2.
well, then I guess it’s worth the nausea I was feeling today after I took the first (of 4) pills
I was lucky and my employer paid for my vaccinations as I was traveling to India for work. I was extremely cognizant of what I put in my mouth and drank for two months and I did not get sick from food/water while in India. Coworkers got Giardia (sp?) a terrible bug which required medication that totally wipes out all the good bacteria etc in your GI track so it makes people lactose intolerant for several months. Ugh. The malaria pills were the only thing that made me sick on two separate occasions and the upset stomach lingered most of the day. I was in India during the wet season so pretty important to take the pills.
I forget what I paid, but Costco has great prices on these vaccines as well. You do not have to be a Costco member to buy prescriptions at Costco.
I am a physician. Please, please ignore the person trying to convince you they know more than the cdc. Walgreens is a great option for adults. Give yourself at least a few weeks before travel in case you need to take medications prior to leaving. I utilize the university travel clinic near my house. I have to pay for the visit which is about 80 bucks, but the vaccines and prescriptions have mostly been covered by insurance