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Isle of Man Health Care and Vaccinations
| Title | Special precautions |
|---|---|
| Typhoid |
No |
| Yellow Fever |
No |
| Rabies |
No |
| Malaria |
No |
| Hepatitis A |
No |
| Diphtheria |
Yes |
| Tetanus |
Yes |
No vaccination certificates are required to enter the Isle of Man. The British government ended the long standing bilateral health care agreement between the two countries in 2010, meaning that the Isle of Man Health Service is not part of the UK NHS and except for immediately necessary and emergency treatment that does not require admission to hospital, visitors to the island who require treatment will be expected to pay for it. It is therefore recommended that all visitors to the Isle of Man ensure that they have appropriate insurance in place. This ought to cover any treatment costs as well as repatriation to the UK by air ambulance should that prove necessary. Dental treatment and prescribed medicines must be paid for.
There is a hospital, which is modern and provides a high quality service as well as a number of dental practices. Pharmacies are found throughout the island in the larger towns, with a variety in Douglas, Castletown, Peel, Port Erin and Ramsey amongst other places.
Food on the Isle of Man is of a high standard and can be consumed without fear. Water is clean and can be drunk from the taps unless there’s a sign to the contrary. You shouldn’t drink from streams in the countryside in case there’s an issue with the water upstream.
There are very few natural hazards although high winds, rough seas and dense fog that reduces visibility drastically can potentially cause visitors problems. There are also risks from flooding, both from heavy rain and from high seas. It is a good idea to listen to weather forecasts and in particular pay attention to wind and gale warnings as these can be relevant to people walking on the coast or the open sections of the interior.
When out walking on the island, be aware that it is possible to get sunburnt even on slightly overcast days; wear suncream and a hat if outside for prolonged periods. If you have fair skin, wear a light, long-sleeved top and trousers. On colder, wetter days there’s the risk of exposure and possibly hypothermia if you do not take the appropriate clothing and kit for the conditions. Whatever the weather, make sure that you take care of your feet when out walking; warm and dry them properly at the end of the day and work on preventing blisters by reducing the friction between your foot and shoe. If you’ve left it too late and already have a blister, cover it with Compeed or a second skin style plaster.
If you are not a strong or experienced swimmer familiar with the sea, be aware that there can be strong tides and awkward currents off the Isle of Man. Always be aware of changing conditions and tidal movement.
Global warming and rising sea levels are potential longer-term threats as all the island’s towns are at risk from increased sea levels. The northern plain, made up of soft marine sediment is also in danger of being lost to the sea over time.
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