Do I need a rabies injection for Koh Tao?

Question

I'm hoping to go to Koh Tao next month (last minute trip), but I've read mixed information about whether its necessary to be vaccinated against rabies, (the vaccine has to be received over the course of a month.) Obviously I'd have to get it pretty much straight away, so I was wondering whether anyone had any knowledge/insight as to whether the vaccination is necessary?

Answer 1

Only if you plan to get into a fight with a dog. Otherwise it would be a stupid idea and a waste of money. Plus I like to see this information that makes you feel you need rabies injection to come here.



Thanks for the information, but I disagree that it is a more of a problem in Thailand then anywhere else in the world I recommend you do not get the shots you got a better chance of being bite by a mosquito then a dog. Dengue Fever is a problem but no shot to protect you just keep insect repellent with Deets available.

Answer 2

I normally spend a few weeks a year diving off Koh Tao, never once have I needed any medication or seen any rabid dogs. There are plenty of dogs on the island but never have I seen one get aggressive. The dogs will befriend you hoping to get a bit of sympathy and you give it some food, they will eat anything apart from salad,



A dog never bites the hand that feeds it.

Answer 3

you don't. in sairee there arn't even that many dogs really. there are some that sleep out the front of 7/11 all the time but they are completely harmless and to lazy to attack anyone i reckon.

dogs are much more active at night and even walking around alone in the dark at night you might get barked at or even threatened by a dog but you would have to be very unlucky for them to give you a actual nip.

as an example i was in koh tao coming out of happy bungalows on my crap motorbike at about 2am when 3 dogs came out of nowhere snarling at me like they were going to eat me for dinner with there noses right at my feet. I was thinking they were going to bite me for sure. then my motorbike stalled. as calm as i could i didn't look at them and restarted my bike and left. as soon as my bike stalled they stopped.

what i'm getting at is they are all talk. the only other times where i felt i may have been under threat there were when i went exploring alone along lonely jungle paths and would see dogs up ahead. they deterred me from continuing.

i went everywhere and did everything on that island and am positive you dont need a shot.

if anything you should be worried about taking care of yourself when drunk. koh tao is not a good place to have problems with locals.

Answer 4

oh my - are you planning on spending a lot of time in a kennel or working with dogs or befriending strays? - - sure, it is possible to get bit anywhere in the world, I guess - just not very likely - and docs seem to way over-proscribe injections - ask your doctor - if he says "no" and on the longshot that you do get bit - you sue him - so, a self-protecting doc will always say yes and charge you money to get whatever jab he can think of -

Answer 5

the quack ( doctor ) is ya best bet but

personally from the average backpacker up the hill,

no u dont need it