Travel Vaccines


Have you had your cholera jabs yet? It’s probably the last thing you want to think about before an exciting trip. In our globalized, modern, and mobile world, over 1 million people travel internationally each day. Americans are keen travelers, whether for pleasure, or business. Travel gives us an opportunity to experience other cultures, to reunite with family, and if on business, further our commercial objectives. International travel can be a fun and enriching experience, but it can also pose health risks. The type of risks you might face during travel depends on a number of things including:

  • Where you are traveling.
  • Your activities while traveling.
  • The state of your health.
  • Your vaccination history.

In many countries, vaccine preventable diseases are still common even though they have been eradicated from North America. Some illnesses you can catch overseas can be prevented with immunization. Anyone traveling overseas should visit their doctor to find out what vaccinations they need. Even if you think your travel destination is safe, keep in mind that disease outbreaks can and do happen. Vaccination offers good protection against many diseases.

If you are traveling with children, it is important that you speak with your doctor about the risks. The immunizations you may need are decided by your health, age, lifestyle, and occupation. Together, these factors are referred to as HALO. Some of these routine immunizations, such as for the flu, are important for people with medical conditions such as asthma, respiratory and cardiac conditions, metabolic conditions (such as diabetes) or anyone over 65 years of age. Pregnant women, babies and young children, the elderly as well as people with a weakened immune system (due to a medical condition or certain medicines) are especially at risk of infection when traveling. Before traveling make sure you are up-to-date with routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, influenza and pneumococcal. Your doctor can give you further advice about this. You should get advice at least eight weeks before you’re due to travel, as some jabs need to be given well in advance.

We have the experience to help you enjoy a healthy trip. We have the facilities to provide the care needed to help you ensure that your trip is enjoyable and free of adverse health concerns.

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