Travel vaccinations, also referred to as Travel Immunizations are shots that travellers can receive before visiting certain parts of the world to help guard them against contracting serious life-threatening illnesses. Travel vaccinations are safe, effective ways of helping protect travellers from bringing home more than they asked for.
Vaccinations work by exposing the body to germs or part of germs of the illness it will guard against. The body responds to the vaccination by producing antibodies that will guard you if you are in danger of contracting the disease in the future.
We offer different Travel vaccinations across all our branches at Limuru Cottage Hospital, which are categorized as follows: recommended vaccines, routine vaccines, and required vaccines.
Table of Contents
- Recommended vaccines
- Required vaccines
- Routine vaccines
- Things to consider before receiving Travel vaccinations
- Steps to Protect yourself while travelling
- Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Vaccination.
Recommended vaccines
These are travel vaccinations that are meant to protect you in areas with a high risk for contracting certain diseases. They also help prevent the movement of diseases from one country or region to another. Most of these vaccines target diseases and illnesses that are common in crowded areas with poor sanitary conditions.
Our Health professionals recommend giving yourself 4-6 weeks to plan for your travel and get any needed travel vaccinations as many travel vaccinations need to be given in a number of shots in a duration of days or even weeks. Your body also needs time to build up immunity.
The different recommended travel vaccinations available at our facilities are;
- Coronavirus
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
- Rabies
- Japanese Encephalitis
Required vaccines
There are only three known required vaccines which are: yellow fever, meningococcal, and polio vaccines. Of these three, the International Health Regulations only require the yellow fever vaccine. Travellers going to the African continent and most countries in Central and South America are required to be immunized with the yellow fever vaccine. An international certificate is available as proof of yellow fever immunization.
Saudi Arabia demands meningococcal vaccine for those who are going to Mecca for the annual Hajj, certain countries may demand polio vaccination for travellers originating from destinations with reports of the occurrence of wild-type poliomyelitis.
Routine vaccines
These are standard basic immunizations that are included in most national health programs. They are usually administered to children but may need booster shots in order to provide effective immunity. Some diseases such as poliomyelitis, which may have been eradicated in developed countries may still be prevalent in others.
Many adults are however not updated with their vaccinations, while some have never been immunised at all. Travelling is a good way to get people vaccinated to protect them from contracting the disease, or, for people living in endemic areas, from spreading it. Routine vaccines include Measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, pneumococcal, Hepatitis B and H. influenza vaccines. In some select countries, the vaccines for varicella, rotavirus, human papillomavirus (HPV) and (BCG) have been included in routine immunizations.
Things to consider before receiving Travel vaccinations
Our health professionals in our facilities will recommend for you Travel vaccinations based on the following:
Your current age and health status
Some drugs are known to reduce the effectiveness of Travel vaccinations. If you are on medication for a disease like Diabetes, there are some known drug interactions that you should watch out for as you could be more vulnerable to infections than others.
Immunization history
It is important to be aware of any past immunizations you’ve had and the timelines to help the doctor know which vaccine routines you might need to have updated.
Travel itinerary
It is important to know as much as possible about your itinerary because the danger of certain diseases can vary from one city or town to another, and from one country to another even in the same country. When reviewing your travel itinerary, it is important to consider the following;
- Food on the trip
- The time of your travel, and whether you will be in an urban or rural place
- The duration of your visit
- The season of your visit
- The lodging conditions (air conditioning, open-air tents, or screened-in house or room)
- The mode of travel (by air, by road, or by sea)
- Activities planned for the trip
Working as an aid worker
You may come in contact with more infections in a refugee camp or help after a natural disaster as diseases and infections spread faster in crowded places.
Working in a medical facility
A doctor, nurse or other medical professionals may require additional travel vaccinations as they work in high-risk environments that expose them to various diseases.
Contact with animals
It is recommended to get travel vaccinations when travelling as you may be at a higher risk of getting diseases and infections spread by animals, like rabies.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
In many instances, it is unlikely that vaccinations are given while pregnant or breastfeeding will be harmful to the baby but it is recommended to consult your travel health professional if:
- You think that you are pregnant
- You are pregnant
- You are breastfeeding
People with immune deficiencies
For some people who might be travelling abroad, vaccination against some diseases is discouraged if:
- You already have a condition that affects your body’s immune system, like HIV or AIDS.
- You are receiving treatment that is known to be affecting your immune system, like chemotherapy.
- You have recently had a bone marrow replacement or organ transplant.
At the end of the day, it is you to make a decision whether to have the travel immunizations or not. Some people are unable to receive certain vaccines due to an allergy to a vaccine component or a medical condition. Always have in mind that you are at a greater risk of the illness they are protecting you from than the vaccines being administered.
Steps to Protect yourself while travelling
- Basic hygiene and common sense; Always wash your hands before eating and avoid having your fingers to your face or mouth.
- Drinking bottled or boiled water to get rid of organisms that might be harmful.
- Using insect repellents and looking at other ways to protect yourself from insect bites in countries or places where malaria and other insect-borne diseases are prevalent.
What vaccinations are mandatory for travel?
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Vaccination.
Meningitis, polio, and yellow fever are some of the most mandatory vaccinations for travel in most countries.
Are travel vaccines important?
Travel vaccines are important as they help protect you against infectious diseases while you’re travelling as well as ensure that you don’t bring contagious diseases back home to your family, friends, and the community in which you live.
How long do travel vaccines take to work?
Some vaccines need up to 8 weeks for them to be administered and to be effective.
How long do travel vaccines last?
The vaccination process requires a course of 3 injections in intervals for full protection. The second dose is administered 1 to 3 months after the first and gives immunity for up to a year. The third dose is administered 6 to 12 months after the second one and provides immunity for up to 3 years.
How far in advance do you need travel vaccinations?
At least 8 weeks before you are due to travel since some vaccines need time to allow your body to develop immunity, while some involve a number of does spread over several weeks or months.
What does fully vaccinated mean?
When you have finished your vaccine, whether one dose or two and two weeks have elapsed then you are considered to be fully immunized as your body requires two weeks for your immune system to mount its full response.