Exploring the Importance of Travel Vaccinations
If you watch the news, you are seeing that the measles is in the United States and that it is spreading faster than anyone is used to. Vaccinations nearly eradicated this virus, but due to the new anti-vax trend, more and more people are not protected. These people travel outside the country to areas with epidemic rates of measles, such as the Philippines, and then get infected and bring it back to the United States.
There are many other diseases that there are vaccines for that are not common in the United States. If you are traveling abroad, you want to speak to your doctor and ensure that all of your vaccinations are up-to-date so that your vacation is both healthy and happy.
Getting Vaccinated Before Traveling Abroad
The exact vaccine and vaccine boosters you need ultimately depend on the country you will be visiting. When you get vaccinated before you travel, you not only protect yourself from potentially serious diseases, but you also protect your community and everyone you come into contact with. Your primary care doctor will give you a list of the vaccines you need before heading to your destination and he or she will explain how far in advance these should be given to ensure adequate protection You should see your doctor about two months before your scheduled trip to allow enough time to get the necessary vaccinations. If you are taking a child, talk to their pediatrician to ensure the child is up-to-date on all necessary vaccinations.
Which Vaccines Might I Need?
If you are up-to-date on all of your childhood vaccinations, you should be fine there. However, your doctor may recommend boosters for certain vaccinations, depending on how old you are and if you ever had boosters for your routine childhood vaccinations. In addition to your routine vaccinations, you will likely require at least one or two more to ensure protection. Make sure your doctor knows which country you are visiting and the approximate area so you will have the protection you need. The other vaccinations you may need include:
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- • Japanese encephalitis
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