Immunizations...Do I Need Them

Excerpted fom Yahoo Answers:

Do I really need immunizations for China?
I am going to China to live for a
year. I have a job lined up and they are providing me living accomodations. A
friend of mine suggested I check out the CDC website. It recommends
immunizations for rural areas of China. I am moving to a very urban area, 6.5
million people, a big industry port.

I am American and 31 years old man,
with little history of illness.

Do I need immunizations?


Yup..... hep A is recommended... 2 shots about 6 months apart give
you lifetime coverage... plus a tetanus of course... and depending on where you
are going (even in large city) you may need malaria... certainly take malaria
med w/ you...cipro antibiotic w/ you... etc.... Otherwise you may have to rely
on acupuncture........... If you've ever seen a true Chinese 'drug store' you'll
go w/ whatever innoculations are recommended plus some emergency meds.... Life
is very different in China..... Now if you're going to be in Hong Kong as
oppossed to mainland China that's a little bit different... Make an appointment
with an 'international' doctor in your hometown... tell them exactly and I mean
exactly where you will be staying or travelling (everywhere you will be or may
be in that year) because sometimes even the distance of a very few miles makes a
difference as to what you need..... Take a map with you too because sometimes
the name of the city doesn't sound anything like the way it's written.... Be
prepared..... You can always leave behind whatever you haven't needed when you
leave China.... You are in for quite an experience! If you're at all asthmatic
take lots of meds.... severe pollution.....