Bangkok Travel Clinic

Today, I was on a mission, to get travel vaccinations for Thailand and Southeast Asia. I wrote about getting vaccinations for Thailand in a previous post which can be found, here.

In summary, the vaccinations that I got today cost $60 in U.S. Currency. The same vaccinations in the U.S. that I needed were going to cost $650. I am glad that I waited and got them here!

The cost break-down in the U.S. is as follows:

$110- Office Visit

$65: Typhoid- Needle Vaccination (1 Shot)

$237- Japanese Encephalitis-Needle Vaccination (2 Shots) (Price is PER shot.)

The Cost of what I actually paid (In Thai Baht):

Vaccines: $1575BHT or $52.50 U.S.

Hospital Service Fee: $50BHT or $1.66 U.S.

Doctor Fee: $100BHT or $3.33 U.S.

New Registration Fee: $20BHT or $.66 U.S.

Injection Fee: $60BHT or $2 U.S.

Total: $1805BHT or $60.66 U.S.

The clinics cost break-down is as follows:

Originally, I had planned to get the rabies vaccination today but changed my mind as you have to get three shots in a row which are time sensitive, roughly one week apart. I am still planning my trip and therefore I am going to wait until my plan is more stable.

There is a private hospital about a 5min walk from the hostel in which I am staying. It is called the St. Louis Hospital. I proceeded to go to the hospital without an appointment and see if I could get the vaccinations right away. I talk to a receptionist in broken english and determine that I need to go to a different hospital on the other side of town. She hands me a piece of paper that has directions. It instructs me to get on the BTS which is a public rail service that inner-connects the city.

I walk several blocks and get on the rail-line. I need to take it to the National Monument which is the name of a rail station. It requires me to transfer to another train car but is relatively intuitive. After arriving to the station, I get out and walk for 15 min to Asia’s Center of Excellence for Tropical Diseases.

I did not have an appointment so I was not sure if I would be able to get service. I walk into the nice air conditioned building and walk up to a service representative. I fill out a simple health form and go to the travel clinic which is on the third floor of the building. I arrive, fill out some more paperwork and have to wait 45min for the doctor. No problem! That is much better than having to return at a different time. After patiently waiting and talking with the doctor, he suggests that I get Typhoid, Tetanus, and Japanese Encephalitis. I agree and inform the nurse that I usually faint when given shots. Fortunately, I did not pass-out….

I asked if there were any side-effects and the nurse replied that, “You may have a small fever for 24 hours and a sore arm.” Sweet! I think to myself, not only to I get to stay hot in 90 degree heat but I also get to have a fever… Awesome. But! It is better than getting the disease!

After getting the shots, I wait a few minutes and walk back to the BTS to get back to the hostel.

Mission success!