Vaccinations in Russia

Russia does not require vaccinations except for an AIDS certificate prior to issuing a visa if you are staying longer than 3 months.

The routine vaccinations like tetanus-diptheria, measles, poliomyelitis, mumps, and rubella should be updated. Aside from that, consider your destination in Russia. Tetanus and encephalitis ("entsefalit" in Russian) vaccinations are important when trekking to the forests. Malaria also exists so make sure you bring insect repellents.  

For those bound for the cities, an anti-malarial drug is not necessary. Selective vaccinations are also recommended if you are bound to rural areas, or will be living and working near rice fields. Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection transmitted by the Culex mosquitoes in Asia and Southeast Asia. These mosquitoes breed in rice fields. Avoid tick bites, as this may also cause tick-borne encephalitis.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor 4-6 weeks before your trip to Russia. This is a good time to update your routine immunizations such as Tetanus- Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Several diseases are contracted as a result of bad personal hygiene. Hepatitis A, for example, is primarily transmitted through contaminated water and food or by the fecal-oral route, and may cause liver damage. Vaccination can start over one year of age, often combined with Hepatitis B. You may notice that poor personal hygiene can contaminate food and water, which may lead to typhoid fever, Hepatitis A, gastrointestinal infections and infectious diseases.

There is also a growing concern on gynecological diseases such as AIDS, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Chlamydia, to name a few. Condoms are highly recommended, and use the utmost discretion in choosing your partners.

Prevention is always better than the cure, so it helps to be mindful of these health reminders when travelling to Russia.