One of the most frequently asked questions of travel agents is do I need any shots? Just what vaccines does a traveler need when he or she is on the road? The answer to that question depends on where you are going and for how long.
When you are planning to travel aboard, it is always best to check with a doctor or a Travel Health Center to see if you will need any vaccines for your destination. There are some shots you should consider having before you leave home.
Make sure all your vaccinations are up to date. This includes diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and TB (tuberculosis). Although most of these diseases have been eradicated in the Western world they are still prevalent in developing nations. I would advise anyone traveling outside of North America to get a Twinrex shot, to help protect against Hepatitis A and B.
A flu shot is probably a good idea as well because you may have a natural immunity to local flus and viruses but not to ones that you could be exposed to in other countries. Other vaccinations you might want to consider are cholera and Hepatitis A.
If you are traveling to Africa or South America, you will need to determine if you will be visiting an area that is at risk for malaria or yellow fever. Then you must see a doctor or a travel health professional. You will need to be vaccinated against yellow fever if you are traveling to an area that is at risk this includes central and southern Africa and most of South America, with the exception of Argentina and southern Chile.
If traveling to an area that is at risk for malaria you will need to take anti-malarial drugs, beginning the regime at least two weeks prior to your departure and up to 4 weeks after your return. Areas at risk for malaria include Africa, parts of the Middle East, Central America, northern part of South America, India, and Southeast Asia.
Always carry your vaccination certificate with you as some countries will not let you enter unless you can prove you are vaccinated against yellow fever, especially if you have visited an area where yellow fever is endemic.
Check government travel and health advisories to determine if there is a current health risk in the country you are headed to. Visit the website of the Center for Disease Control and search for the country or countries you will be visiting.
Never ever leave home without medical insurance. You may be healthy, have had all your required vaccines and arent worried about getting sick but expect the unexpected. If you were to get into an accident or catch something unusual in a strange country and need medical attention, an operation or repatriation without adequate medical insurance you will be required to pay for treatment out of your own pocket, usually before you receive the treatment.
Before you travel see your doctor or visit a local travel health center, check relevant websites to determine if there are any health risks at your destination and make sure all your routine shots are up to date. This should insure you wont have to worry about getting sick when you are on your dream vacation.
For more information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentVaccinations.aspx http://www.iamat.org/
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