7 Reasons to Visit Maldives At Least Once In Your Life
Guide To Travel Vaccinations In Singapore –
Travel vaccinations are something we as Singaporeans often take for granted due to the high health standards back home. To be honest, I never knew how much risk I had previously placed myself in if it wasn’t for the compulsory Yellow Fever vaccination I had to take before traveling to South America.
So after hours of research, 3 hospital sessions and 7 injections later, I figured it’ll be useful to share this information with all you wanderlusters out there. (Especially important if you are taking a long trip!)
Most travel vaccinations also require a few weeks before they work, so start planning early! Better still, do it first if you will be traveling regularly since they can last quite a fair number of years anyway.
(1) Find out what travel vaccinations are required
The US CDC Travel Health Advisory offers a very comprehensive guide to travel vaccinations required for the country you are traveling to. It also provides tips on how to prevent common travel health issues and diseases.
(2) Check your own vaccinations
Check carefully because chances are that if you are above 20 years old, all the vaccinations you took as a kid (yes even the dreaded BCG D: D:) are no longer valid. Different vaccinations have varying validities so just check! I have a list of common validities listed in a table below.
(3) Know your vaccines
If you are going to some exotic location with lower health and sanitation standards, it is likely that the number of vaccines you have to take will be overwhelming. Yet despite the advisory (of course they have to be more cautious), you should decide for yourself what is necessary. Vaccinations can be expensive (see table below) and everyone has different requirements depending on what you will do. For example, rabies vaccine is a must if you are volunteering at a shelter dealing with at risk animals.
My friends at Sunrise Odyssey has an introduction to common recommended vaccines for travel too!
(4) Decide when and where to have your jabs
Some vaccinations like Hepatitis require >1 dose over a few months before it is valid so it is important to be aware and plan in advance.
Generally you can get your jabs either at polyclinics (cheapest, but limited), private clinics, or hospitals.
If you are short of time, The Travel Clinic at SGH is probably your best bet cause there is no waiting time and they have everything. Note that the Yellow Fever Vaccine is only dispensed on Fridays. Call ahead at for enquires, they were really friendly and answered any queries I had.
Anyway here’s a list of common vaccinations, doses, validities and cost (at SGH Travel Clinic). Information from SGH Travel Clinic but it is probably wiser to use this for reference and check with the experts directly!
|
Vaccination |
Doses |
Validity for Adults |
Cost/Dose |
Total Cost |
Remarks |
|
Hepatitis A |
2 |
~20years |
$71 |
$142 |
|
|
Hepatitis B |
3 |
>5years |
$53 |
$159 |
|
|
Hepatitis A & B Combined |
3 |
same as above |
$110 |
$330 |
Normal: 3 jabs at month 0, month 1 and month 6 Accelerated: 3 jabs at week 0, week 1 and week 4. Booster jab 1 year later. |
|
Yellow Fever |
1 |
10years |
$164 |
$164 |
|
|
Typhoid |
1 |
3years |
$30 |
$30 |
|
|
Rabies |
3 |
5years |
$170 |
$510 |
|
|
Polio |
1 |
10years |
$100 |
$100 |
|
|
Tetanus |
1 |
10years |
$37 |
$37 |
TDAP |
|
Influenza |
1 |
1year |
$30 |
$30 |
Information correct as of 27/03/14.
Hope this article to travel vaccinations in Singapore was useful. Feel free to share any experiences or tips you have below!
Related posts
Hey may I check if you know any polyclinics offer yellow fever jab?
Enquiring for my dad.
Cheers,
Alice
Hey Alice, I believe they do. But best to call and ask!
Hi! I’ll be heading to Brazil in July, and was just wondering if you took the rabies shot while you were there? I’m still in two minds about it because it is pretty costly and I still have to undergo treatment if I really got bitten?
I’m planning to do a little wildlife thing, like perhaps go on an Amazon tour, and head to the Iguazu Falls perhaps, but I won’t probably spend more than 1 or 2 weeks in those areas?
Hello Winnie!
Nope I didn’t get the rabies jab. Just made sure I avoided situations where I might get bitten or scratched. There are many coaties at Iguazu Falls who might approach humans and steal food (kind of like the monkeys here), so just be aware!
If you’re going to be in a remote part of the Amazon for an extended period of time, taking the jabs might be a good idea. Otherwise just be careful and things should be fine!
Hey Hendric, do you know if the costs for the vaccinations are universal in Singapore or will polyclinics and hospitals be cheaper? Also, do you know if any insurance is able to cover the cost of vaccinations for us?
Hey Clare,
If I’m not wrong, the common vaccinations are cheaper in the polyclinic. You could call to confirm though.
Nope it can’t be claimed via insurance.
Hey Hendric, thanks for the fast reply! I’ll be heading over to Ecuador for exchange soon. your blog really helped me to get more information on South America. thank you so much!
You’re welcome! :)
Exchange in Ecuador. That’s amazing!
Went to Raffles Medical in Bugis. Wait time around 1 hr from registration to payment. Cost wise
Consultation $26
Influenza $27.10
Practice cost $14.50
Twinrix (Hep A & B combined) $94
Thyphoid $33.50
GST 7% $13.70
Thanks for sharing!
Update for price of Rabbies shot, now (29/8/2017) is $170.
Thanks for the updates!
Is that really $170 per dose or $170 for all 3 necessary doses? Because $510 for all 3 doses seems awfully expensive…
Hi Chee Song, it’s $510 for all 3 doses. That’s the price years back when the post was written. I haven’t had the need to take any recently so haven’t updated.
TBH rabies jab is unnecessary unless you plan to work closely with animals. I didn’t take it and never faced any issues with wild animals or strays in my travels. As long as you don’t provoke them nothing should happen!
Hi Hendric,
I saw your blog about YTT 200 in Rishikesh. Can I check if you remember what kind of Vaccine to take pls? I heading over in March 2018, hope you can share because I went to CDC website to check and there is so many to take and can cost a bomb. Just want to make sure I get what I needed, thanks in advance!
Hello! TBH, we have been to India 5 times and I think you mainly need the Hep A & B jab. Unless you intend to handle and work with animals, Rabies isn’t necessary.
Thanks for the useful information!
Hi!
Stumbled across your blog while doing some research on vaccinations as I’m travelling to Spain/France/Germany for 2 months with my wife.
Just wondering if we have to do all those vaccinations again as you mentioned that these vaccinations don’t last forever. :(
Hi Dirk, how long the vaccinations last can be found on the table on the blog!
Hi I’m planning to visit Machu Picchu and Rio de Janerio. Is a fellow fever vaccination compulsory? And what if I do not get one, will I be denied entry back to Singapore? And any idea how does the immigration officers know that I just came back from these countries?
Hey Rachel, there are no real answers tbh. They say you need but I didn’t get checked once during my travels in South America and I crossed the order 9 times!
I guess it’s better safe than sorry?