This is for anyone out there, like me, who is stressing about travel vaccinations. The crazy cost of them in Australia and wondering what it’s like to get them in Malaysia or Kuala Lumpur specifically. If that’s not you, don’t worry, you can go and read something else like our guide to Kuala Lumpur with kids. We got a whole bunch of travel shots at a private clinic in KL. This post tells you a little about that experience.
Before we left Australia I had a painful appointment with my GP. No needles, just a big financial headache. According to him we should consider every vaccination in the book and it was going to cost us an arm and a leg, each. I went away and wrote a post, The Travel Vaccination Drama, and had a good think about it. I decided we’d get a few travel vaccinations in Bangkok, where it’s a lot cheaper.
Plans change all the time. Three months into our trip we still haven’t been to the Bangkok Travel Clinic. We didn’t spend long in Bangkok at all, accommodation prices drove us away and we headed to lovely Kanchanaburi instead.
We did have some time on our hands in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, so I checked out a clinic there.
Travel Vaccinations in Kuala Lumpur Were Super Easy!
I spotted a clinic in the huge, spangly KLCC shopping mall, it’s the one under The Petronas Towers. I shot them an email about travel vaccinations and appointments. No appointment necessary, just turn up.
So we did, twice. I got myself a tetanus vaccination, I hadn’t had one in years, and all three of us got typhoid vaccinations, I’ve heard typhoid isn’t fun.
The Twin Towers Medical Clinic was the most modern, super efficient, clean and generally awesome medical facility I have ever been to, anywhere in the world. They’re not paying me to say that.
We filled in a form at reception requesting the travel vaccinations we needed, took a ticket and waited for our number to be called. Within minutes we saw the lovely lady doctor and the job was done. Take another ticket, wait for the invoice to be ready, pay and go.
We didn’t get rabies vaccinations at this point. Our decision to get rabies shots came later when we decided they were worth getting for more remote and challenging destinations.
Were Travel Vaccinations Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur?
It was cheaper than Australia. It’s hard to say based on only 2 vaccinations, but these are the figures I have.
Typhoid Vaccination in Australia $36.50 ( cost of vaccination only from QLD pathology, your doctor will probably charge you extra for sticking the needle in)
Typhoid Vaccination in Malaysia $25 AU ( they did charge me a 20 ringgit consultation fee, $6 AU)
Typhoid Vaccination at Bangkok Travel Clinic $10 AU ( charges $6 according to their website, checked today)
I don’t have the exact price for a tetanus vaccination in Australia, in Kuala Lumpur it was $25 AU. A friend told me she paid $65 recently, but that’s 2nd hand information, prices vary along with how much your GP thinks he should be paid.
That’s all I wanted to say really, how great the clinic was and how incredibly easy getting travel vaccinations in Kuala Lumpur turned out to be. Happy travels!
Back to our main Malaysia Travel Blog page for a full run down on travel tips and destinations in Malaysia.
Emily
Monday 24th of June 2019
Hi Alyson, thanks for writing this post - very helpful! I'm just wondering if you would mind sharing the email address that you used? I realise it was a while ago, so it may be out dated, but I figure I'll give it a crack. I went on their website and couldn't find an email contact, but I'd like to get in touch with them and confirm if they are able to offer what my partner and I will need.
Loving reading your posts - you've visited many of the places that we'll be heading. We take off from Melbourne in a few weeks, with no return date woohoo!
Thank you!
Alyson Long
Tuesday 25th of June 2019
Just Google Twin Towers Medical Centre Contact - I don't know if this is the same email address we used, but its easy to find.
Faraz
Thursday 24th of January 2019
can anybody guide me, which medical clinic in kuala lumpur provides an IPV for travel? it's urgent.
Cristina
Thursday 24th of January 2019
Try in medical center KL, good, clean and fast service
Alyson Long
Thursday 24th of January 2019
What's IPV?
Sam
Saturday 23rd of June 2018
Thanks very much for this advice! I’ve just been in for tetanus and typhoid shots - service was very efficient and about 1/3 the price of what I’d pay in New Zealand. Would certainly recommend to those needing immunisations before heading to into the more intrepid parts of Asia.
Cristina
Thursday 7th of June 2018
Hello!! Thank you so much for your information!
I'm in Kuala Lumpur just now. I'm going to India tomorrow, and I don't have the typhoid vaccination.
I went this afternoon to medical center in KL asking for typhoid tablets (one fríend told me in Spain give in tablets). In the Medical center told is an injection, and I was afraid, I'm in my first trip alone, not my first trip, but I was confused... I didn't know what to do and I decided not receive the injection.
After read your post, I'm more confident... I'll go tomorrow morning for the typhoid vaccination. Did you have a secondary effects? I really appreciate you, thanks to explain yours experiences everywhere.
Alyson Long for World Travel Family
Friday 8th of June 2018
Maybe a sore arm? I've never heard of Typhoid tablets and I worked in pathology and received regular vaccinations against all this stuff for 20 years.
Julie
Tuesday 1st of May 2018
I will be traveling to KL in this year with my sons what vacs are suggested, we will be there a week, my youngest son is Type 1 Diabetic. They boys are teens and have had vacs through school here in Australia all are up to date. I have never been been vacs. Thinking Flu and Tet, hate needles
Alyson Long for World Travel Family
Tuesday 1st of May 2018
Don't see why you'd need flu if you don't normally have flu jabs and everyone's tetanus should always be kept up to date. But I can't advise on vaccinations, it's personal choice and if you question what the doctor wants to sell you, do plenty of research and be sure of your decision. I've never had a flu jab in my life, none of us have, if that helps. BUT we did all go down with flu ( real flu, not a cold) that we picked up at Legoland Malaysia after being around thousands of coughing sneezing kids. Purely coincidence, nothing to do with what country we were in, could have been anywhere that crowds gather. KL is a big modern city, very western, more western than the UK in many ways.