Vaccine requirements for international travel/moves?

[Flower of Bliss]

We're looking at the possibility of moving to Hong Kong for 2-3 years in about a year. The more I think about it the more panicked I get. I have a 2.5 year old and a baby due in August, so I'd have a 5 month old and a 3.5 year old at the time of the possible move. My DD is unvaccinated, and I didn't intend to vaccinate the baby. Obviously I'd do research looking at risks in Hong Kong if we're moving there, but I'm worried about requirements. Since my kids will be so little still, I'm especially nervous about their vulnerability to vaccines (and to disease).

Where can I find information on legal requirements for international travel, and for actually living in Hong Kong? I'm not coming up with much doing google searches...

[Mirzam]

I lived in Hong Kong for 11 years, my eldest was born there. I did vaccinate her, but only because I didn't know any better at the time. If I were to live there now, there is no way I would vaccinate my children just because of living in HK. It is really little different living in HK than living here in the US in the terms of vaccine available disease risk, IMO.

ETA, there are no "required" vaccinations to travel to HK, only CDC "recommended" ones. As for when in HK, I know my DD's school required her vaccination record, but I am not sure they could have refused her a place had she not been vaccinated. I know they will accept homeopathic nosodes in lieu of vaccination.

[Marnica]

Why are you worried about VPD's in HK more than here? HK is not exactly a third world country where many VPD's are endemic. (at least I don't think it is!)

The fact they accept nosodes for school requirements is amazing!! I wish they did that here in the US.

[Flower of Bliss]

Sorry, I know just about NOTHING about Hong Kong, but I certainly didn't mean to imply that it's a third world country at all. I'm sorry if my post sounded that way. I didn't expect there to be a serious difference in risks of disease.

I'm just feeling really nervous about dealing with legal requirements in a foreign country. It's one thing to do things differently from the norm in the US, but it seems like a different thing to be an American in a foreign country doing things differently from both the norms in that country and the norms in the US. There are a million things I need to figure out before we can decide about this possible move. It sounds like it could be an amazing opportunity, but it definitely terrifies me too.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Flower of Bliss

Sorry, I know just about NOTHING about Hong Kong, but I certainly didn't mean to imply that it's a third world country at all. I'm sorry if my post sounded that way. I didn't expect there to be a serious difference in risks of disease.

I'm just feeling really nervous about dealing with legal requirements in a foreign country. It's one thing to do things differently from the norm in the US, but it seems like a different thing to be an American in a foreign country doing things differently from both the norms in that country and the norms in the US. There are a million things I need to figure out before we can decide about this possible move. It sounds like it could be an amazing opportunity, but it definitely terrifies me too.

And I didn't think you meant it that way!!

I just meant to highlight that it is not a country where these things are running rampant. I have been to Hong Kong and it reminded me in a way of New York. I know having so much to consider is scray though. Didn't mean to diminish that at all. I would probably be nervous if it were me moving as well even with everything I know. Good luck mama!