subject: Get Your Travel Vaccinations! [print this page] As you plan your trip to a foreign country, travel vaccinations should be one of the top items on your to-do list. Why? Because many countries have acquired their own unique diseases that you may not have adapted to. While you may have immunity to the local diseases in your country, when you travel to a place that is not familiar, you may but subject to infection. Don't let sickness ruin your vacation; make sure to get your travel vaccinations before you leave!
Schedule a visit with your doctor about four to six weeks before your trip, since most common vaccinations take at least four weeks to become effective within your body. However, if you've failed to plan ahead and your trip is less than four weeks away, it's still a good idea to get in to see your doctor. You'll still benefit from the shots, and he can also provide a variety of tips on staying healthy while traveling.
Find out which travel vaccinations are required for your destination. In addition to your routine shots, you'll have location-specific shots that help your body avoid the diseases that are more likely in that area of the world. Also, find out about treatments that aren't required, but are strongly recommended for the area to which you're traveling.
Take extra precautions if you struggle with health issues like diabetes or HIV. These conditions can require extra medical measures to ensure protection from location-specific diseases. Since your immune system is already compromised, talk to your doctor about extra protection.
Women who are pregnant and individuals who will be accompanied by young children also need to talk to their doctor about special precautions to take during a trip. Infants and young children may require even more attention to travel-related illnesses, depending on the planned destination. Check with your pediatrician about any special measures that need to be taken for infants and young children.
Traveling to new continents provides great opportunities to experience new cultures and learn about the daily lives of others. Broaden your horizons by traveling whenever you can! However, before you step on that plane, be sure to take necessary precautions that will keep your body in good condition. You don't want to spend your vacation lying in bed or in the hospital just because you didn't get your travel vaccinations before you left home!
It's also important to be vaccinated because many of these diseases that you will encounter are foreign to your body. Traveling wears on your immune system anyway! Why take the risk of bombarding your already compromised body with unusual diseases that could easily be avoided? Talk to your doctor about travel vaccinations at least six weeks before your trip!
by: Aloysius Aucoin
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