Urgent Care - Quick Vaccinations Before Your Exotic Vacation

Nov 30
08:25

2011

Andrea Avery

Andrea Avery

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Overseas tourists can get recommended and required disease immunizations through their local urgent care clinic. Their services are walk-in, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to finish all injections before travel.

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Right before packing and after getting your travel visa,Urgent Care - Quick Vaccinations Before Your Exotic Vacation Articles the next thing on your vacation checklist should be a visit to urgent care for your vaccinations. If you're traveling to certain exotic locales, it is highly recommended that you take precautions to protect your health and safety, which can include shots and doses of prescribed medication. Getting an appointment with your general practitioner can take several weeks. If you're behind schedule and can't wait, there's no reason not to visit the local urgent care for a quick vaccine. Their services are cheap, convenient, and fast. Not sure if you need a round of injections or not? Here is an overview of travel vaccinations.

Asia:
Mosquitoes are a big problem throughout Asia, and the annoying buggers can transmit several diseases including malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Preventing bites is the best protection method, so bring some strong insect repellent and keep covered. However, for malaria, a dosage of medication should be taken in certain high-risk areas such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and rural sections of China, Thailand, and Malaysia. There is no vaccination against dengue fever, but people staying in rural locations in China and Japan for extended periods can take a vaccination against Japanese encephalitis. Some people also recommend a vaccine against rabies (which can be a threat in rural areas), but if attacked further injections are still required.

Africa:
While most countries merely suggest immunizations, in many parts of Africa it is required to receive a yellow fever vaccine before you will be issued a visa. Even after entering the country, you should keep your certificate of vaccination with you at all times. Other recommended but non-required vaccinations include typhoid, polio, meningitis, and hepatitis A and B. Malaria tablets should be taken as well, starting before arrival. Some vaccines such as those for hepatitis will require three doses set a few weeks apart, meaning you must begin the process fairly early. Fortunately, many immunizations will last anywhere from five to ten years, so if you have had injections in the past, you won't require them again.

South America:
It's a jungle out there, and if you're traveling to South America, particularly anywhere in the Amazon, you'll need to protect yourself. Unless you are traveling exclusively to Chile or Uruguay, you will require yellow fever injections (certificate may be required for entry) and malaria tablets. The usual vaccination rounds should be taken or updated such as typhoid, rabies, tetanus, and hepatitis A and B. Because many diseases can be transmitted through insects, use repellent and discourage bites by covering up exposed body parts and sleeping with protective netting.

In addition to travel vaccinations, your urgent care can also provide you with some tips on avoiding other diseases that can be transmitted through ingestion of food or liquid. Immunization rules can change regularly depending on the occurrence of outbreaks, so it is important to check online or with the embassy for updates and warnings. Remain informed and you will decrease your risks.