Hepatitis B vaccination

Hi all,

1stly thanks to all who replied.

I went to Institut Pasteur as was generally recommended by the responses above. If anyone is considering going the following may be useful:-

The entrance to the part of the compound for vaccinations isn't on Pasteur St. Instead its the entrance on the other side of block. The address is:-

252 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia
District 3
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel (08) 3820 7150

The vaccination clinic is open 7 days x 07.00 to 11.00 & 13.00 - 18.00.

Payment is cash only. There is an ATM street across the street from the entrance to the compound. The ATM worked perfectly for my visa debit card to a UK bank account.

On walking into Institut Pasteur through the gate just follow where all the other people go. There is then 2 opposite buildings. The bigger & busier one is for vaccination. The other is for things such as blood tests. Whether the building there for e.g. blood tests is open 5 days or 7 I am unable to advise.

On walking into the building for the vaccination clinic there is a person at the doorway who gives out tickets with numbers. When your number appears on the screen it tells you which consultancy room to go into. I suspect that the room my spouse and I were directed into was because the lady giving us the advice spoke English.

The lady asked us what we were there for. I first was interested in a booster and showed the lady my vaccination history card. I was advised that based on my history I may not need a booster for the vaccine in question. She suggested I attend the opposite building for a blood test.

The lady gave us a blank immunisation record card and ran through the other vaccinations that were available. My spouse needs a bunch of vaccinations. However some of these she decided not to have since there is a course of multiple injections to complete the vaccination (we only had 2 further days left in Vietnam). At least one of the other vaccines the lady said they didn't currently have in stock.

This meant my partner and I elected to each have 2 injections each. The consultant wrote the details on the appropriate section of the card. The consultant was also happy to update my existing vaccination record that I brought with me.

We took the prescription sheet to the cashier and paid. The names & costs of the vaccines were:-

* Meningo A+C - 180 000 vnd
* Vaxigrip - 240 000 vnd

There was a 3rd injection my spouse elected to have. However she was told to wait a minimum of 2 weeks after the above the vaccines were given. We next went to have the injections & this was done clamly and efficiently, one into each arm.

Next we went to the opposite building with the written instructions given by the consultant re the blood testing to be undertaken. Again I paid at a cashier and was then directed to the room where the blood would be taken. Again this was done calmly and efficiently. The paper I was given told me to return for results during a 2 hour window that seemed to coincide with being 24 hours after when the blood sample was taken. I regret I don't appear to have with me the receipt for the payment. I recall though it costs the equivalent of around £8 - £10 in sterling.

I duly returned the next day and received the results. These were in Vietnamese so on asking I was directed to the same English speaking lady who had advised me the previous day. She looked at the results and explained to me that the anti body levels in my blood meant I don't need the booster I had asked about.

I'd be happy to use the service from this again should I be in Ho Chi Minh City. My better half is similarly happy with the service provided to her.