Do you need malaria tablets for Domincan Republic?

Question

Daughter going in Feb.If required want to buy malarone - I know a prescription is required but want to get cheaper then £2.25 per tab.

Answer 1

No, they are not required...I've been there.

Answer 2

Yes, it is better to take malaria tablets. Though it depends where you are going, some places like the mountains are malaria-free. Malaria is more frequent close to Haiti.

Answer 3

My daughter and her family went to the DR last year and they were recommended by their doctor to take the course, which they did; as you know, the NHS won't pay as we don't need malaria tablets to live in the UK.  This is from the site below: 'Malaria: The Centres for Disease Control recommends prophylaxis with chloroquine for rural areas throughout the country and for all parts of La Altagracia Province, including Punta Cana.  French and British authorities recommend malaria prophylaxis for ALL travellers to the Dominican Republic.'  The second (NHS) site is worth a visit, and you may find the third site useful - go near to the bottom of the page - it's a forum so has quite a lot of info re prices, etc. (Do ensure that you obtain the correct tablets for the DR, as there are several different types available & they're not all appropriate).

Answer 4

ou should speak to your GP but from the UK you are not advised that you need Maleria tablets at all.

Answer 5

No, you need malaria tablets for malaria

Answer 6

For your information the Dominican Republic is not Africa, so of course you don't need any tablets at all.

Answer 7

I went to the travel agents last night and booked my holiday to the Dominican Republic. I'm going in June. They gave me a letter with Health requirements on it.

It says,

HEALTH

Compulsory - None

Recommended -  Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio Hepatitis A, Diphtheria, Malaria Tablets.

Then it says that Malaria is mainly in the rural areas.

If you are going to get them, they may be expensive but its probably better getting them from the doctors. At least then you know they are safe.

You don't want your daughter being unwell out there because she not had the proper medication.

Answer 8

Dominican Republic MALARIA REGIMEN 3

Malaria risk in the whole country all year round although the risk is greater in the western provinces of Castanuelas, Hondo Valley and Pepilla Salcedo in rural areas including game parks. There is less risk in the east and in built up tourist resorts but periodic outbreaks do occur in these areas.

Answer 9

Loads of very useful info on the Travel Doctors website.

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/malaria.ht...

All the best!

Answer 10

No she doesn't need them I have been loads of times - my husband is Dominican.  They do have mosquito's and yes you get bitten but I would not say it is necessary.  Also all the people who I met who took them got stomach problems and diarrhoea

Answer 11

Yes she will need them! Although Malaria isnt too bad there I was advised to take them when i went last march...

I think i paid £14 for the whole lot which covered me for the 2 weeks but you do have to start the course 2 weeks before you go away.

The doctor should try and do it for the cheapest they can. I think for 2 pills you would have had to pay the perscription charge of 6.85 but she did it so it wasnt through the NHS

because you get charged per prescription the same amount no matter what with the nhs!

x

Answer 12

I was just in Dominican for a over a month helping out in the deaf community teaching ASL and you don't need Malaria tablets there are greater thing you need to be worried about such as taking preventatives for ecoli and parasites and amoebas I took a lot of grapefruit seed extract and a few other things as well but mainly that one everyday once a day... I went to a homeopathic doctor and he told he what to do. For the misquotes I use TiFu oil its An essential oil that keeps misquotes away you just put little dots of it all over your body. But nothing can keep the Chiggers away they feel like mosquito bites but itchier bUT they are harmless.