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Have a big international trip planned? Before you pack your bags and head to the airport, give your health an added layer of protection with recommended travel vaccines.
“Prevention is always the best medicine,” says Dr. Ole Vielemeyer, associate professor of clinical medicine and medical director of Weill Cornell Medicine Travel Medicine. “This is especially true when you go to parts of the world where the health system may be more limited than it is here.”
In the United States, immunization typically begins in the earliest days of life. As you grow older, it can be tempting to postpone vaccination, and many do. In fact, fewer than 25 percent of American adults under 65 years old have received all recommended vaccines for their age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This can be troublesome, especially if you’re traveling overseas. Keeping up with routine vaccines helps protect against infections at home and on the road. Therefore, do your best to catch up on the recommended immunization schedule to reduce the risk of a vacation-ruining illness.
Routine vaccines you and your family need include:
● Chickenpox (varicella)
● Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTap or Tdap)
● Flu
● Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
● Polio
● Shingles
Protecting your health while abroad may require more than routine vaccinations. Diseases that are rare in the United States can be more common in areas of Asia, Africa and South America. So you need to be aware of your risks and protect against diseases in other parts of the world.
To do that, research the diseases present at your travel destination. Using the CDC’s Travelers’ Health tool, you can search for your specific travel destination and identify appropriate vaccinations. Common travel vaccines guard against the following illnesses:
● Cholera
● Dengue fever
● Hepatitis A
● Hepatitis B
● Japanese encephalitis
● Malaria
● Typhoid
● Yellow fever
You can usually receive multiple immunizations at a time. Whether you need the malaria, dengue fever or yellow fever vaccine, timing your vaccination ensures maximum protection.
“Most vaccines are effective two weeks after one dose,” Dr. Vielemeyer says. “However, some require two doses given 28 days apart before traveling.”
To ensure you get your vaccines in time, schedule your travel vaccine appointment at least six weeks before departure.
Along with timing your vaccine properly, consider how long you plan to stay at your destination. Dr. Vielemeyer says this can change your vaccine recommendations.
“Often,” he says, “more shots are needed if you plan to stay away for six to 12 months, compared to the typical vacation that lasts two or three weeks.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, health recommendations can change overnight. If a disease breaks out in your travel destination, you may need additional vaccinations.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert in travel vaccines. A primary care provider or expert at Weill Cornell Medicine Travel Medicine can help keep you safe, wherever your travels take you.
“Our clinic offers advice and help staying safe when you’re traveling to countries with higher rates of infectious diseases,” Dr. Vielemeyer says. “Making travel safer is one way to help broaden our collective understanding of people around the world.”
Going overseas is a wonderful opportunity to gain new perspectives through new experiences. It can also increase your risk for certain infectious diseases, many of which are preventable through travel vaccines.
Want to learn more about vaccines, clinical trials and other vital medical topics? Here’s what we know so far.
