Why Immunizations are Needed for International Travel
Why Immunizations are Needed for International Travel
It is estimated that 1 billion people travel by air annually, both on domestic and internationally, and that this number will double within the next two decades. Because of the relative ease of travel even to remote areas on the globe, various health risks have become a reality. Some of these risks or diseases may have community wide or global implications, and many of them can be prevented by ensuring that the correct immunizations are done before traveling.
Some diseases are only found in specific geographic areas. Therefore ensuring that your supplemental and basic vaccines are up to date before international travel is crucial. Some vaccines are required before you can travel to certain parts of the world.
Basic immunizations are given in most countries, and most travelers would have received these as a matter of course. This group of vaccines includes vaccinations for measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and the BCG (Bacille-Calmette-Guerin) vaccination.
Supplemental vaccinations are vaccinations that are dependent on the length of stay and the geographical area where you are travelling to. Supplemental vaccinations include vaccinations for cholera, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, plague, rabies, typhoid and yellow fever.
Medication to prevent Malaria should also be kept in mind when talking about vaccinations. Even if there is no vaccine available to prevent malaria at present, antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine are effective in preventing the disease. Malaria is transmitted to humans via mosquito bites, so simple precautions against mosquito bites should also be taken if you visit a malarial region.
Under normal circumstances vaccinations will not be given to pregnant women, especially within the first three months of pregnancy. Vaccinations are also best avoided if there is a chance of becoming pregnant within the next three months. Polio and yellow fever vaccinations can be given safely if there is a risk of infection.
Tetanus injections may be given if the woman is going to an area where the baby may be born in unsterile circumstances. If a vaccination is, however, essential, it is better to administer it in the last trimester. If the vaccination is only necessary to comply with regulations, the treating doctor may consider providing a certificate of exemption.
Pregnant travelers should try and avoid travelling to malarial regions, as the disease can cause the baby to be born deformed. It is also better not to take small children and babies into malarial regions, as they are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
Certain vaccinations are regulatory requirements, e.g. yellow fever for visits to Africa and the East. Your travel agent will be able to advise you on the vaccinations that are necessary and the ones that are desirable. Your general practitioner or travel clinic should be able to advise you on the correct immunizations for your planned trip. Ensure that you discuss this with your healthcare service provider in plenty of time, as there are certain vaccinations that have to be done at least a month before you travel. Get Website Traffic Using Both Off and Online Ways! Targeted Online Traffic Will Blast Your Sales Into The Stratosphere Travel To India Holiday Packages India Six Travel Tips To Kerala Economical Yet Remarkable And Personalized Journey Only With Vegas City Travel Packages Ceiba Del Mar On Conde Nast Traveller Gold List For Third Year Running The Vital Traveler Guide For A Breathtaking Stay At Fort Lauderdale And Finding A Greatest Lodging Travel Mugs Or Coffee Cup Gifting An Old But Still Most Preferred Choice A Old Hand's Easy-to-follow Tips For Tourists Wanting To Travel For The Caribbean Trip Learn How To Send Money To Vietnam On A Card Before You Visit, And Other Tips For Traveling Getting more traffic with the help of Toronto Web Design Car Rental Tips When Traveling This Holiday Season India Tour Packages Travel Around The Fascinating Destinations Of India In Cozy Manner