Diseases and Vaccinations
If you are travelling off the beaten track, it is very important that you leave plenty of time to get any vaccinations you might require before you leave home. For most countries in Europe you will not require any immunisations, however you do need to take precautions for many other countries around the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and South America as well as parts of the Pacific.
Some vaccinations require an initial booster shot and if you need several vaccinations you may have to receive them over a few weeks, as they cannot all be given at once. Consult your doctor at least six weeks prior to your departure.
Record all the vaccinations you have received on an International Health Certificate,
available from your doctor or government health department. Vaccinations that
may be required include:
- Cholera - Despite its poor protection, in some situations it may be wise to have the cholera vaccine. Very occasionally travellers are asked by immigration officials to present a certificate, even though all countries and the WHO have dropped a cholera immunisation as a health requirement. You might be able to get a certificate without having the injection from a doctor or health centre sympathetic to the vagaries of travel in Africa.
- Hepatitis A - The most common travel-acquired illness after diarrhoea
which can put you out of action for weeks. Havrix is a vaccination which provides
long term immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial injection
and a booster at six to 12 months. Gamma globulin is not a vaccination but
is ready-made antibody collected from blood donations. It should be given
close to departure because, depending on the dose, it only protects for two
to six months.
- Hepatitis B - This disease is spread by blood or by sexual activity.
Travellers who should consider a hepatitis B vaccination include those visiting
countries where there are known to be many carriers, where blood transfusions
may not be adequately screened or where sexual contact is a possibility. It
involves three injections, the quickest course being over three weeks with
a booster at 12 months.
- Japanese B Encephalitis - This mosquito-borne disease is not of great
risk to travellers. It occurs in Asia. Consider the vaccination if spending
a month or longer in a high-risk area, making repeated trips to a risk area
or visiting during an epidemic. It involves three injections over 30 days.
The vaccine is expensive and has been associated with serious allergic reactions
so the decision to have it should be balanced against the risk of contracting
the illness.
- Meninogococcal Meningitis - Healthy people carry this disease; it
is transmitted like a cold and you can die from it within a few hours. There
are many carriers and vaccination is recommended for travellers to certain
parts of Asia, India, Africa and South America. It is also required of all
Haj pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. A single injection will give good protection
for three years. The vaccine is not recommended for children under two years
because they do not develop satisfactory immunity from it.
- Polio - Polio is a serious, easily transmitted disease, still prevalent
in many developing countries. Everyone should keep up to date with this vaccination.
A booster every 10 years maintains immunity.
- Rabies - Vaccination should be considered by those who will spend
a month or longer in a country where rabies is common, especially if they
are cycling, handling animals, caving, travelling to remote areas, or for
children (who may not report a bite). Pretravel rabies vaccination involves
having three injections over 21 to 28 days. If someone who has been vaccinated
is bitten or scratched by an animal they will require two booster injections
of vaccine, those not vaccinated require more.
- Tetanus & Diphtheria - Tetanus can be a fatal wound infection
and diphtheria can be a fatal throat infection. Every one should have these
vaccinations. After an initial course of three injections, boosters are necessary
every 10 years.
- Tuberculosis - TB risk to travellers is usually very low. For those
who will be living with or closely associated with local people in high-risk
areas such as Asia, Africa and some parts of the Americas and Pacific, there
may be some risk. As most healthy adults do not develop symptoms, a skin test
before and after travel to determine whether exposure has occurred may be
considered. A vaccination is recommended for children living in these areas
for three months or more.
- Typhoid - This is an important vaccination to have where hygiene
is a problem. Available either as an injection or oral capsules.
- Yellow Fever - Yellow fever is now the only vaccine which is a legal
requirement for entry into many countries, usually only enforced when coming
from an infected area. Protection lasts 10 years and is recommended where
the disease is endemic, eg Africa and South America. You usually have to go
to a special yellow fever vaccination centre. Vaccination poses some risk
during pregnancy but if you must travel to a high-risk area it is advisable;
note that people allergic to eggs may not be able to have this vaccine. Discuss
this with your doctor.
- Malaria Medication
Antimalarial drugs do not prevent you from being infected but kill the malaria parasites during a stage in their development and significantly reduce the risk of becoming very ill or dying. Expert advice on medication should be sought, as there are many factors to consider including the area to be visited, the risk of exposure to malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the side effects of medication, your medical history and whether you are a child or adult or pregnant. Travellers to isolated area in high-risk countries may like to carry a treatment dose of medication for use if symptoms occur.
Information verified by Traveller's Medical & Vaccination Centres, Australia
Check out the websites below for detailed information on diseases and required
vaccinations for worldwide destinations and other useful health advice:
World Health Organisation (WHO) Traveller Health Advice
