I’m teaching in Dalian starting in January, and I’ve visited a travel doctor to discuss necessary vaccinations (ugh). I understand the need for most of the vaccines she suggested, but I’m getting mixed signals about whether or not I need shots for rabies and Japanese encephalitis. She suggested them, but claimed she didn’t know enough about the area to determine whether or not these (very expensive) vaccines were crucial. Do you know if most people teaching in an urban area in the northeast (like Dalian) require these shots? Any help you could give me in this regard would be fantastic.

Thanks,
Jen (from Montreal, Quebec)

Jean Answers Jen’s Question

Dear Jen,

Congratulations on coming to China to teach! Liaoning Province is a beautiful and historically rich area and Dalian, being right on the sea, is a great place to work.

First, let me make a small disclaimer. I am not a doctor so any insights that we give you should not be taken as sound medical advice. We can only tell you what we have heard from talking to the people in the area where you are going to work.

Foreigners that live in Liaoning Province tell me that they too were offered the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination for a cost of approximately 300 USD per injection before they left their home countries. They also thought this price was outrageous and refused to be vaccinated. In fact, few people that I have talked to up there have chosen to have this vaccination. If your doctor is only ’suggesting’ the vaccination and not urging it than perhaps it is not in the crucial category. In fact, a quick check of information on the CDC website shows that “the vaccination is not routinely recommended for travelers to urban areas only.” Your decision should be based on how much time you plan on spending in the city as compared to the suburban areas (countryside) of China.

You may want to more carefully consider the suggestion of getting a rabies vaccination. Even in the urban areas, there are still plenty of stray dogs wandering around and while I have never seen an attack myself, I am sure that there have been incidents. I can tell you that I have been chased a few times by dogs in the countryside which tend to roam in packs scavenging for food. I am not trying to scare you but you will definitely enounter dogs in China.

In closing, there are plenty of foreigners who have traveled to China without any of these suggested vaccinations and been fine. Whatever you choose to do, please make sure that you have either purchased health insurance or are being adequately covered by your school’s plan. You may want to ask them before you go about what their plan covers.

Hope that helps. Let us know how your experience goes!

Sincerely,

Jean

Ask Jean About China cannot be held responsible or liable for any of the advice that is provided here. Please do your own due diligence and understand the risks before you make a decision.

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