To begin with, when do you need travel vaccines?
• If you are relocating to a country outside the United States, Western Europe or Australasia, you need to contact a travel medicine clinic or medical practitioner at least four to eight weeks before you travel, and in some cases even earlier if you are planning long-term travel or undertaking a work related assignment overseas.
• If you need to travel on short notice, it is still worth booking travel medical consultations even as late as the day before you travel, as certain vaccinations can still prove to be effective if given at this time.
• If your work involves regular travel at short notice then you should consider booking a general check up with a medical practitioner or clinic, where a periodic review can be undertaken to discuss any possible future travel plans and have any necessary vaccinations.
Remember…
Vaccines do not offer total protection against diseases but prevention is better than cure and you should still take the usual precautions to avoid disease. For example, you should take measures to prevent mosquito bites in areas with malaria and avoid areas of poor sanitation even if you are vaccinated against malaria.
Most vaccinations offer protection for a period ranging from 3-10 years, depending on what you are getting vaccinated for. If you do not want to be vaccinated then consult your physician for homeopathic medicines for some diseases, including malaria.
Some anti-malarial medications are more appropriate for long-term use. If you are staying in one of these areas for more than 6 months, it is important to continue taking your anti-malarial medication as you continue to be at risk.
However, if you permanently move to an area where malaria is endemic, you definitely should seek specialist advice. It is also possible you might gradually build up some natural immunity against the disease.
Getting anti-polio vaccination for children below the age of 18 is advisable and necessary.
Determine mandatory vaccination requirements for different countries. For instance vaccinations for Cholera and Yellow Fever are mandatory in most African countries and you will need an International Certificate to gain entry.
You could also consider vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Meningococcal Meningitis and Typhoid. Tuberculosis is a big health risk in Sub-Saharan Africa and getting vaccinated against it is recommended.
You should also get booster vaccines of diphtheria and polio if you are moving to or working in an area where these diseases are prevalent. This includes some parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and Russia for diphtheria, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and Africa, for polio.
The flavivirus which causes Japanese encephalitis is common in South East Asia and the Far East. You will need this vaccine if you are moving to one of these areas, or are planning to stay there during the transmission season.
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