Vaccination Requirements

Short answer, it is better to be safe than sorry.

I've been looking at a few other sites and can't help but feel that these vaccination advisors are on comm.

On checking requirements for the UK, US, Norway etc they all recommend jabs for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella,  Polio etc.

Anyway my wife is now a little more relaxed but is still afraid she'll find a crocodile in the bath one morning. Presumably we can get a vaccination against croc bites? 

Mosquitos are about the most dangerous thing you will find because of Dengue Fever. Even that is easily treatable and only if there are underlying chronic disease is it life threatening. In fact Mosquito bites are the only thing that puts me off SL because if they dont fog or spray, they can be rife, especially around the beautiful greenery everywhere.

http://www.dengue.lk/

Yes, mossies aren't nice – been through the whole malaria (& hepatitis) thing in Sumatra.

But I understand that being full time on anti malaria medication can be harmful to the liver (and eyesight?). A case of prevention being better than cure I suppose.

Malaria prophylaxis can have disgusting side effects and apparently Malaria is nearly eliminated in Sri Lanka with a minute fraction of cases compared to Dengue. I've heard that Skin-so-Soft by Avon is stupendous at avoiding bites and does not contain ghastly and toxic chemicals. I will be buying some.

Thank you again Gravitas, good idea.

Does it work against crocs as well?

My "pet" hates are snakes and monkeys - so everytime I read on tourist sites about "the charming monkeys at the windows and on the verandah" I freak out.....

Guess on a related point, newcomers are very susceptible to local strains of common cold, flu, virus, etc. So washing hands or using those hand cleanser gels in bottles is a good idea. It usually takes a few years to develop the same immunity as the rest of the population..

I don't mind snakes so much as long as I see them before they see me. And presumably serum is available in hospitals and clinics.
Monkeys are another issue, nasty little creatures. In Cape Town our car was often attacked by troops of baboons with incisors bigger than a lion. But my pet hate? Hippos! Please don't tell me that we're likely to find hippos in the bath in Colombo 

Now Hippos are a VERY strange thing to be on the list. I guess the only threat is likely to be plastic ones..... But having said that my son has bad memories as we took him to whipsnade zoo when he was about 4 or 5 and one pee'd right in front of him and there was gazillions of the stuff - that rattled him !!

Hippos are the biggest killers in Africa. Not sure I even want a plastic one in the bath.

Well you learn something every day !! I guess they are a pretty effective tank-like object as well. Thanks for the heads up !!

My travel doctor recommended the following.
MMR- measles, mumps, rubella
diptheria-tetanus-pertussis
chicken pox
polio
yearly flu shot
Hep A 
Hep B optional but recommended if getting tattoos, exchanging needles or having medical procedures done.   
Rabies optional

As far as malaria treatment is concerned best to keep yourself covered up after dusk and first thing in morning. Trousers, long sleeved shirts. Oil of citronella is great.

Thanks for that Stumpy.
Having had measles, chickenpox (& mumps?) as a kid I can cross those off the list. Also malaria & hep B as an adult (I must find out if re-infection is possible). And I don't drink so probably no tattoos likely 
I can see that we'll have to find a local doctor when we arrive.
Meanwhile thanks everyone for the helpful advice & we look forward to meeting up with some of you next month.

When my wife first came to Sri Lanka, family doctor gave her many pills for that and this. As a good German girl she followed his advice and after few days in SL she got sick. Headache, stomach pains. A SL doctor advised "her throw all these shit and drink a king coconuts (Thambili) daily, you will fine". And how fine she was after. We had a good holiday.

Have you ever consider how much your liver and kidney effect from all these shots and pills ?

Sounds good to me – I understand that toddy works as well.

I think we'll just stay with the flu jab.

Thanks

As a Sri Lankan I can advise you to get prevent only from mosquitoes.
Most foreigners use mosquito repellents.
Please try to eat only from tourist restaurants.
Drink only bottled water.
King coconut water and coconut water has healing and cooling ability.
Any fruits are ok but some can not eat a lot of pine-apples as it has a heaty condition
Malaria is only in dry zone.

Thanks Mal sensible suggestions that apply in most places together with washing fruit before eating etc..

It would be nice to experiment with local restaurants but a few years ago we foolishly accepted food wrapped in newspaper at a rail station and the results lasted more than a week. Not an experience to be repeated!