Will be living in Shanghai for 6 months with 2 year - WWYD?

[lunapier]

Our nearly two year old son is not vaccinated. We are moving to Shanghai, China for 6 months (DH work) in October and are concerned about whether or not to vaccinate. I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

[Mirzam]

Personally I wouldn't. I lived in Hong Kong for 11 years and didn't see it as anymore of a risk than in the US or UK. I have also been to Shanghai and there really is no difference. If you are comfortable not vaxing living in the US, then you should be confident in not vaxing living in China.

[La Sombra]

I don't really have any firm advice to add except that I lived in Taiwan for several years and I didn't have to get any vaccines that I didn't already have (as a child) to go there. Which kind of means to me that they don't have any VPD that we don't already have here, right?

You know what you might do? Just google China immunizations and see what is on their vax schedule. I have done that with various European countries. If you see anything funny, something that isn't on ours, you could do a further search on that. Also, the state department website will probably have suggested immunizations. Come to think of it, so might a guide book, like a Lonely Planet or something. Of course you'll have to still weigh the risks yourself, like you already have living here in America, but it will give you something to go on.

I'm also writing to say good luck! We have pm'ed regarding a doc here in Detroit, if you remember, so when I saw your name I thought I'd respond. I am getting a degree in Mandarin Chinese right now so I think it's so awesome that you and your family will be living there for six months. Best to you!

[Moonglow Girl]

I've lived and travelled in China, both urban and rural. If you don't vax in your home country, you shouldn't need to vax while living in the P.R.C.. Especially in a city like Shanghai. Shanghai is about as "western" of a city as you'll find in mainland China right now.

As with most "exotic" places, learning about appropriate clean water and food practices will keep your kids much healthy than any vax or anti-malarial pill would. This doesn't mean you have to avoid street food. Just exercise caution till you know more about the cuisine and various venders/markets.

Consider bringing your own probiotics for everybody in your family. Start on them at least several weeks before departure for the best effect.

Fwiw, as an expat in Asia and Africa, I always found it curious that the sickest expats tended to be recent arrivals who'd loaded up on every "travel vax" available in the months before departure...

Better to load up on probiotics, practice good nutrition and food/water hygiene and ENJOY your stay. China is AMAZING!

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Moonglow Girl

Fwiw, as an expat in Asia and Africa, I always found it curious that the sickest expats tended to be recent arrivals who'd loaded up on every "travel vax" available in the months before departure...

That's a very interesting observation!

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

That's a very interesting observation!

That's because (imo) they have decimated the healthy flora in their guts. A healthy gut should easily be able to cope with exposure to unfamiliar bacteria.

[MissRubyandKen]

The CDC has current, destination specific information. China

[SAmama]

Just saw this thread. We live in rural China, far away from the type of medical care you would be able to get in Shanghai. We used to vax, but don't anymore and will not in the future. After researching the diseases that vaxes are supposed to prevent I feel very confident about our decision. Also, there are worse diseases here than vax preventable ones - saying this not to create fear, but to stress the importance of not messing with your immune system.
Oh, and, if you are concerned about treatment, the one thing that you can get here is IV vit C, even in our small town. We just use sodium ascorbate for everything though.
And, agreeing with one of the pp's, we are the healthiest expat family (aside from dd's allergies, partly due to vaxes) here. And it is not because we avoid dirt. Oh, fwiw, dd is also 2.