Travel Vaccination
Travel Vaccinations
You don’t always need vaccinations to travel abroad. If you do, the recommended vaccinations will vary, depending on:
which country you’re visiting and, in some cases, which part of the country,
the season or time of year when you’ll be travelling, for example, the rainy season,
whether you’ll be staying in a rural area or an urban or developed area,
what you’ll be doing during your stay, such as working in or visiting rural areas,
how long you’ll be staying, and
your age and health.
Get advice well in advance
It’s best to get advice about vaccinations at least eight weeks before you’re due to travel. If you do need new vaccinations, some jabs need to be given well in advance so that they can work properly.
You also need to make sure your existing vaccinations for the UK are up to date, such as polio and tetanus. If they’re not, you can arrange booster jabs.
Where to get advice and information
See your GP or practice nurse for advice about travel vaccinations. They can also tell you about protecting yourself from malaria.
When you have your check-up at your local surgery, it’s a good idea to review your medical history, present state of health, medications and any allergies. Keep your immunization certificates (and list of current medication) with your passport for use during your travels and as a record for the future.
Find out more detailed information about travel vaccinations in Health A-Z, including those available on the NHS and those you have to pay for.
The NHS Fit for Travel website has vaccination information for every country in the world.
MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Traveler's Abroad) can help you find your nearest private travel health clinic.
NaTHNaC (National Travel Health Network and Centre) can help you find a yellow fever vaccination Centre.
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1072.aspx
Some countries have adopted HIV/AIDS-related entry restrictions. Traveler's with HIV should consult their GP for a detailed assessment and advice before travelling.
These are some of the vaccines sometimes recommended. Get more specific advice from your travel health expert.
Cholera
An oral vaccine is available in the UK for travellers to endemic or epidemic areas, where the risk of cholera is greatest. In most cases, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer required. If it is, your travel company should alert you.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is one of the childhood immunisations in the UK, but protection may not be lifelong. There have been recent outbreaks in some parts of the world – if you’re travelling to one of these areas, a booster may be recommended.
Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus is present in faeces and can be spread from person to person, but it’s usually caught by consuming contaminated food or water. Those travelling to places where sanitation is poor need to be especially aware of the risk of infection.
A vaccination can help to reduce the risk, but it’s also vital to be scrupulous about personal hygiene. Be careful what you eat and drink, and wash your hands after using the toilet and before handling or eating food.
Hepatitis B
This serious infection of the liver is common in many parts of the world. It’s caught via contact with contaminated blood – including sharing needles, blood transfusions or inadequately sterilised equipment – and intimate sexual contact.
Immunisation is available but not routinely recommended for travellers unless they’re likely to be at increased risk through work or other activities.
Japanese encephalitis
This viral disease spread by mosquitoes occurs throughout south-east Asia, mainly in rural areas and during the monsoon season. A vaccine is available for those who are travelling to rural areas in the monsoon season and staying more than two weeks. However, it isn’t usually free on the NHS.
Malaria
Malaria is transmitted by infected mosquitos and is common in many parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America. If you’re visiting or travelling through a country where there’s a risk of malaria, preventative measures are essential.
Antimalarial drugs don’t prevent infection, but do inhibit the parasite’s development and so significantly reduce the risk. In some regions, the parasite is resistant to some of the drugs used. It’s therefore essential to get up-to-date, specific advice about the best antimalarial drugs for your destination.
You should start taking the tablets one to two weeks before departure, to ensure there’s no adverse reaction and to establish an adequate level of protection before exposure. Tablets must be taken as prescribed while in the malarial zone and continued for a further four to six weeks after leaving. It’s essential to finish taking the course of tablets, as the parasite can live in the body for some time after infection.
Remember, none of these precautions gives absolute protection against malaria. It’s therefore vital to know the symptoms, so you can get prompt medical attention should any appear.
Malaria usually starts as a flu-like illness. A pattern of coldness and shivering, followed by fever (38°C/100°F or more), sweating, muscle aches and headaches must be taken seriously.
If you develop a fever or feel ill while abroad or up to eight weeks after returning, seek medical attention immediately. Tell your doctor you’ve been in a country where malaria is a health risk.
Meningitis
Meningococcal meningitis is more common in some areas of Africa and Asia than in the UK. A vaccine is available to protect against some strains. Saudi Arabia requires all pilgrims during the Hajj to be vaccinated. Consult your doctor for more information.
Polio
Vaccination against poliomyelitis is usually recommended for all destinations. In the UK, the vaccine is given as an injection as part of the normal childhood schedule. Booster doses are recommended every ten years.
Rabies
Rabies occurs throughout the world, with most deaths taking place in developing countries, such as those in south-east Asia. Rabies is very rare in the UK, occurring only in quarantined animals and people infected abroad.
It’s usually contracted through being bitten or scratched by an infected mammal, such as a bat, dog, cat or fox. The incubation period is normally two to eight weeks, but can be as long as two years. It isn’t usual practice to inoculate travellers against rabies.
Tick-borne encephalitis
This disease is caught from the bite of an infected tick. It occurs in warm, forested parts of central and eastern Europe and Scandinavia, especially where there’s heavy undergrowth, and is more common in late spring and summer.
Those walking or camping in such areas should wear clothing that covers most of the skin and use insect repellents. A vaccine is available.
Tuberculosis
If you haven’t been vaccinated against tuberculosis (TB) and staying for more than a month in eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Central or South America, you should consider a bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Preferably, this should be given at least two months before departure.
Vaccination isn’t necessary for short visits if you’re staying in international-standard hotels. Revaccination isn’t necessary for those already vaccinated against TB.
Typhoid
Typhoid is caught from contaminated food, drink or water. A vaccination is recommended for all destinations apart from northern Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
There are three different types of vaccine. Depending on which is given, boosters are required at intervals of one to three years.
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is caught from the bite of an infected mosquito. An international certificate for yellow fever is required for travel to several countries in central and west Africa, and the northern part of South America. The certificate comes into effect ten days after vaccination and lasts for ten years. Certificates after subsequent doses are valid immediately.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/travel/before_jabstablets.shtml