Travel Vaccinations
Part of planning a vacation, especially if traveling internationally
, is to obtain any travel vaccinations you or your family members might need. Much like obtaining a passport, vaccinations for travel should be obtained several weeks in advance. Some vaccines take days or even weeks before they become fully effective and since some vaccines are given in a series of doses, it may take a few weeks to become completely protected. When planning your next international vacation, remember to plan accordingly for travel vaccines.The CDC categorizes vaccinations for travel into three categories-routine, recommended, and required. Routine vaccinations are those immunizations, like those against measles, mumps, and polio, that you and your family members have likely already had. The CDC recommends checking the immunization schedule for adults and children to verify those vaccines. Even routine vaccinations, such as varicella for chickenpox, may not have been administered to your children. Keep in mind that certain diseases that are not prevalent at home may be more prevalent, or even widespread, abroad.
Recommended vaccinations are those vaccines that are recommended based on travel destination and other factors, such as the time of year, health history, and previous immunizations. The recommendations are made to present travelers with information on illnesses that may be present or prevalent in the part of the world they plan to visit and allow them to take preventative measures. It also helps prevent the spread of infectious disease across borders. The CDC keeps a record of recommended vaccines based on destination. They may include vaccination against certain types of encephalitis, H1N1, meningitis, and hepatitis B. Other recommendations may be made based on the current health status of the traveler.
Required vaccinations are those vaccines which you must have proof of receiving before traveling. Typically, required vaccinations are not mandated for all travel but rather based on destination and time of travel. Currently, the only required immunizations are the yellow fever vaccine for people traveling to certain parts of Africa and South America, as well as the meningococcal vaccination for traveling to Saudi Arabia during Hajj.
People traveling on cruise ships may or may not receive any recommendations or requirements for vaccines even if traveling to a part of the world where the vaccine is recommended. Recommended and required vaccinations depend largely on destination but also direct exposure. If your ship will not be docking in a specific country, there may be no requirement as there is no risk for exposure to a specific disease. If you are traveling by ship and aren't sure of the recommendations or requirements, check with your travel agent for the ship's itinerary or contact the cruise line directly.
When traveling with small children, who may not have received the entire set of the vaccines on their recommended schedule of immunizations, consider the risks carefully. Many parents choose not to have all recommended childhood immunizations administered to their child. While this may pose only a minimal risk at home, many diseases that are primarily eradicated in the United States are common or more prevalent in other parts of the world.
Obviously, international travel requires a great deal of planning but travel vaccinations should be near the top of your preparation list. Factors such as whether or not you plan to travel with small children, whether you or a companion suffer from an auto-immune disorder or disease, and whether or not you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding must be considered. Your doctor or health care provider can make specific recommendations concerning vaccines for your current health and travel plans.
Make sure to make an appointment with your health care provider several weeks in advance of your departure date. This ensures that your doctor is prepared to discuss the travel vaccinations you need and allows for scheduled doses, if necessary. It also ensures that your body has had time to develop the immunity the vaccine(s) provided. Additionally, in the rare event that you or your child may experience an adverse reaction to a vaccine, you will have immediate access to your doctor which is far better than traveling if and when a reaction occurs.
In most cases, vaccines are not an issue for travelers and the routine vaccinations an individual has received are enough protection against disease. You should be sure you and your family are up-to-date on their shots, including tetanus, before traveling internationally. After verifying this basic health information and that there are no international health requirements for your chosen destination, you are most certainly free to enjoy your travel experience.
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