Travel Vaccination: A Healthier Vacation

With the help of just the right travel vaccination, you can enjoy a better vacation with less anxiety and stress. Why worry about getting sick along the way when you can prevent all sorts of problems before you even get on the place? Whether you are headed to an exotic location or you have a business trip in a foreign country, make sure that you are protected before you leave town.

Routine:
When you work with a physician to set up your travel vaccinations, he or she will ask if you are caught up with your routine vaccines. These include the types of shots that you may have had when you were an infant or a child. When you become an adult, it is time to double check and make sure that everything is up to date. This even includes the flu shot. This may not be a concern because you are going to another country but it is a concern because no one enjoys being sick while they are away from home. (If you are traveling with a child, check to make sure they are caught up as well.)

Recommended:
No one is going to force you to take the recommended travel vaccination. The information provided to you by your physician is for your benefit. Most of the time, the goal is to ensure that you have a healthier and more comfortable trip. Talk to your doctor about what he or she suggests. You want to know what the side effects are, how early they need to be administered and exactly what they will be able to prevent.

Required:
Today, there is only one vaccination that is required by the International Health Regulations. If you plan to travel to countries in sub-Sahara Africa, you must receive treatment to prevent yellow fever. This does not mean that there are not other required travel vaccinations set up by the country in which you plan to travel to. For example, if you plan to go to Saudi Arabia, you will need to take extra precautions or you will not be allowed into the country.

Sometimes, travel vaccinations can be confusing. How do you know which ones are best for your journey? How do you know if the country you plan to visit has any type of requirement? The best way to learn more about what you need is to talk with your physician about where you are going, when you will be leaving and how long you plan to stay. While you doctor may not have the vaccine that you need, he or she will be able to recommend a facility that specializes in these types of treatments for travelers.

Some vaccines will require more than one dose. Don't wait until the last minute to schedule your appointment for travel vaccines. Go in as early as possible and find out what it will take to ensure that you have a healthier vacation.