Immunizations and Costa Rica - Are they really necessary?

Question

Hi! I'm scheduled to attend an intensive language school in Costa Rica in the locations of Turrialba and Arenal in four weeks time.

I just went yesterday and received the first dose of the vaccine for Hepatitis A. I immediately developed an allergy and was informed that I should keep away, not only from the second dose, but from all vaccines, at least for afew months, given how my body responded. So, while I did receive Hepatitis A, I did not receive the Typhoid vaccine they had recommended nor anti-malarial shot or drugs.

Right now I'm very concerned about traveling without these immunizations. For the areas I'm traveling to are they really necessary? I'm scared I'm going to have to cancel my attendance now, something I'm loathe to do as I was so looking forward to it, but I don't want to compromise my health. I'm hoping someone out there will be able to help a girl out as to the actual necessity of immunizations for Costa Rica.

Thank you!

x.o.x.o

Answer 1

No worries.  I've been multiple times and I've never gotten the immunizations.  Malaria is only necessary if you are going hiking in specific areas of the East side (Limon, I think).  Dengue Fever is an issue in some areas, but just be sure to use bug spray and you'll be fine.  I haven't been to Turrialba yet, but Arenal was beautiful.  Don't be nervous, use common sense and have a blast!

Answer 2

There are no immunization requirements for traveling to Costa Rica.  Anti malarial drugs are not really required for the areas where you are going, but it is best to be safe.  You need to worry more about dengue than malaria.  But a bottle of OFF should do the trick as long as you don't forget to use it.

You will be traveling to great places and relatively safe.  As for the other answer to this....Los Cuadros isn't even in Moravia, so first get the facts straight.  There are places where you shouldn't go, but it is like that everywhere in the world.  I lived in California, and there were place in Los Angeles I wouldn't go like East L.A., Compton and Watts to name a few.  I also lived in Chicago and would not go to the Southside, especially around Cabrini Green.  I also lived in New York and there were some places in Harlem where you needed to stay away from, especially at night, 149th street and Lennox comes to mind.  It may have changed.

So, keep your wits about you, listen to the people at the school on the places to visit and the places not to go and have a wonderful time.

Answer 3

I'm from Costa Rica living in America since 2006, but I go there every 6 months to see my family.

Is so sad what I'll tell you... but I feel is my responsibility.

First, Costa Rica is not the same of 5 years ago, not even 3 years ago, is so many crime, that I feel shame.

Please dont go to any place after 5pm, especially San Jose down towm, PLEASE DONT TRUST TO NOBODY, especially if they wear nice cloths.

Coronado is a "semi" safe place, BUT is next to Moravia, there is a place call "Los Cuadros", (the squares). In that place they'll kill you for less than a coin. Not even the locals go there, please stay away from there.

If you are faraway from the house and is getting dark, take a taxi, be careful choosing him, choose the old guy, always, is much safer. In the day may be safe to ride the bus, but I'm seeing in the local news that now many criminals are attacking the buses, robberies with guns and violence.

Dont wear expensive jewels never, dont use a cell phone in the road, or cameras and NEVER NEVER carry on your laptop in his bag, because they'll kill you for get it. If you need your laptop, just used in a backpack. If you can take only your cloths will be better.

This are the places that you need to AVOID, they are extremely dangerous , DAY AND NIGHT:

1) Moravia, especially "Los Cuadros" and near neighborhoods.

2) Zona Roja ( red zone) in San Jose downtown is where all the criminals, prostitutas, drug addicts, homicides, robberies are, so stay away from there.

3) Pavas ( american embassy is here) if you need to go there, take a taxi back and forth.

4) Alajuelita

5) Leon XIII

6) Tibas

7) Barrio Mexico

8) La calle de la amargura, San Pedro

9) LIMON IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TO ME, about 80% of the people are blacks, and in the last month 36 people got killed, homicides, rapes, violence.

10) San Jose of Alajuela. Is a bad neighborhood of Alajuela.

Now, this places are very dangerous at night, in the day are just ok, if you're smart to walk fast and don't stop to see something or talk to strangers you're going to be ok.

1) San Pedro

2) Some Places in San Jose downtown

3) Heredia

4) Puntarenas ( all the area)

5) South of the country: Perez Zeledon, Dominical Beach.

6) Guanacaste: (best beaches of the country), just be careful at night.

7) Alajuela

8) Desamparados

9) Rio Azul (Blue River)

10) Tarbaca

11) Aserri. ( we got a serial killer who killed more than 6 couples and never got caught) about 10 years ago. Is because this is a higher place with incredibles city views and lonely places, so many couples used to go there.

Just a few places I can use the word "safe", basically the very rural places.

Now, a must see place is Arenal Volcano in la Fortuna, San Carlos, but carefully, because in just 2 policeman for the whole town. So the criminals are there now, because they can go away with pretty much everything.

Now, if you ask me why is so bad, in a very small period of time, let me tell you why:

1) Liberals judges, basically the criminals do all kinds of crime, the police caught them and half an hours later are back on the streets, committing more crimes.

2) Our laws are very weaks.

3) We have many illegals (Nicaraguans and Colombians) they are very violent. They got paid for kill people. And again, half an hour later are free.

4) Not many police. Just a few in the rural places, not enought.

5) Many weird crimes are happening now, like homocides or robberies inside big well known hotels, we are wondering if the workers are helping the criminals to get some extra cash.

If you want to practice your spanish better got to another place, and personally I think is very irresponsible that programs, associations or schools are sending students without warning the dangers to them of the zone.

About the weather, is very comfortable, although Coronado is higher in the mountains. so is alittle bit colder. Rain 90% of the time. Is like Washintong State, rain...rain..rain..

In Guanacaste and the South part of the country is hotter, about 10 or 15 degrees more.

Costa Rica has only two seasons: summer and rain.

Rain : from middle of May until November.

Summer: from middle of november until end of April.

About cloths,...

For the city: jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes, boots, light sweaters, jackets, blouses. I dont know if dresses are safe to wear them, because the guys many grab your butt, they dont care even if you go with your boyfriend. NOT MINI SKIRTS, for the same reason.

For the beaches: sandals, bikinis, shorts, lighter cloths

PLEASE DONT WEAR HAWAIAN CLOTHS, because everybody knows you are from another country from faraway, and may not be safe. And anyway nobody used them there.

If still you want to go, just be smart, is a really beautifull country with jungles, white sand beaches, good food ( you must try ceviche with a beer), cool towns, amazing views, but in this moment my country is going down the toilet. Hopelly the people is going to wake up and get back our peacefull land.

Now, Arenal y Turrialba are safe for malaria, I dont know about dengue because is rainy season right now. Just be careful and dont eat food from the road's vendors avoid places that are not clean. Drink the water from the bottles.

Costa Rica has an excelent health care system, not like the others country around us. Many of those Immunizations are innecessary.

Answer 4

You don't need any immunizations to go to Costa Rica.  You just need the regular immunizations you need in your own country (US?).  

So the Hepatitis A vaccine is optional just like it is in the U.S., typhoid vaccine is not necessary and anti-malarial drugs are not necessary.

I'm Costa Rican and I've never have any of those shots nor I have taken anti-malarial drugs.  Malaria is not really a concern in Costa Rica.

Like somebody else said, the concern is dengue fever.

I hope you have a nice stay in Costa Rica.

Answer 5

i would first look and see what shots are required to enter and and if the ones that u ahve not hag r required then u must have them but if they r not i would probably take the neccessary ones and take malaria pills instead of a vaccination. u would rather be safe than sorry