Information about immunizations

The immunizations required and recommended for your country of service are listed at www.imb.org/medinfo.

Savvy shopping

Shop around for the best price on immunizations. Here are some  suggestions:

• County health clinics, in general, will give you the best price.
• A doctor whom you know personally may be willing to give you the immunizations at cost (or even free if he or she wants to contribute to your mission in this way). Be aware, however, that several of these immunizations are not standard vaccinations that most doctors keep on hand. A private doctor will most likely have to order some of the vaccinations listed below, and that will raise his/her cost.
• Your private physician will very likely charge you a lot to give you these immunizations because of the reason listed above unless he or she supports the cause of global missions and wants to give you a reduced cost. Generally this scenario also holds true for walk-in clinics like PrimaCare and Patient First.
• A travel clinic may be your only option for the Japanese B encephalitis immunization. This vaccine is expensive (around $250), and the visit to the travel clinic will carry a fee (usually an initial consultation fee of about $60 and then another fee when you get your shots). Pray that your county health clinic carries this vaccine or that a private physician will order it and give it to you at cost if you choose to have this vaccination.
• Larium, the preventative medication given orally for malaria, has a generic equivalent that is less expensive. Many pharmacies do not keep the generic brand in stock, however, so the sooner you take your prescription to them, the sooner they can order the generic. That means you must go to the health care facility of your choice as soon as possible to receive the prescription.