vaccinations, health advice and insurance - costa rica

Hi,
We have had some great advice from here to date.
We are family of 4 (two kids aged 13 and 10) visiting mid July to end of August and seem to be picking up conflicting advice re: health:

1) Do we definitely need Hep A and Typhoid injections? Any other jabs recommended (we are not great vaccination fans and kids have only had basic triple vaccine you have to have plus tetanus. Not had MMR.

2) We are going to Caribe side but not off beaten track particularly. Do we need any kind of malarial protection and what is best advice on protection from Dengue fever or Zika virus?

3) Being from the UK, we don't generally have to do much with health insurance but I would like to have the peace of mind of good coverage for this trip. I understand Costa Rica has a really good health care system but what would people advise is a sensible level of coverage and anyone recommend any websites etc.

4) Does anyone have any 'must haves' to bring in a First Aid kit (for example I found a brand of probiotic tablets that were fantastic in limiting life of stomach bugs)

Thanks very much one and all!

1)which shots kinda depends on ones concern level but look at your gov website or talk to a travel nurse. The US has the CDC. Set aside your jab concerns they do work.

2) avoid mosquitos, use repellent. wear long sleeves when you can and do not go there pregnant.

Dengue is a real threat, and there is no shot, you need to cover up and use repellant.

For developing countries in the tropics, its best to Have Tetanus (booster every 10 years), and the usual Typhoid/Dyptheria.

He A is good, may as well get Hep B, the world over, as teens become sexually active...

Malaria is risk is slim to none where a tourist would go.

Consider Medical Insurance that covers Medical Evacuation, as thats what coast a lot of seriously ill/injured, getting transported in a private aircraft to Houston/Dallas or Miami. Not really needed for broken bones...CR has good medical.

Zika a is a issue, especially if planning on more children.

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