International Travel Health Vaccinations

You Mean SHOTS????

Which shots you need will depend on your destination.

Travel to most big cities in developed countries probably won't require vaccinations, but in less developed counties, international travel health vaccinations are recommended and in some cases required.

The best way to find out what you need is to check on the site for the U.S. Center for Disease Control Vaccination Page... ...or check with your government health service.

The CDC and some other government sites for travelers' health do sound a little scary and confusing, so to make it easy on yourself, find a travel medicine doctor. They can give you advice on which vaccinations are required for your trip, which are recommended, and what other medications may be recommended, such as malaria pills.

Allow plenty of time ahead of your trip for vaccinations.... some require a series spaced days or weeks apart. Others require a few days to become effective. No vaccinations are required to return to the United States. Check with your own government health service to see what is required for you.

International Travel Health Vaccinations That May Be Required

     
• Yellow Fever

For more information on Yellow Fever and where it may be required, again... head for the CDC site... click on Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements this time. Or again, check with your government health service page for travelers. To find an official vaccination center near you, check for a travel medicine doctor or the CDC page on authorized US Yellow Fever Vaccination clinics once it is updated and again becomes available.

Most Other Travel Shots Are Only Recommended

International Travel Health Vaccinations That May Be Recommended for Your Personal Well Being Are:

     
• Hepatitus A and B
       
• Polio
       
• Tetanus (Diphtheria-tetanus)
       
• Typhoid (either multiple vaccinations or a series of oral medications)
  
  

Others:

     

• Encephalitis (Japanese encephalitis)
       
• Pneumococcal
       
• Meningococcal (meningitis)
       
• Varicella (chicken pox) (or had disease)
       
• MMR (or had diseases)
  

Cholera used to be recommended for some areas, but it's been years since we had it. The last we heard it was not an effective vaccination and not recommended as an international travel health vaccination.

Precautionary Medications....
In Addition to International Travel Health Vaccinations

Your travel medicine doctor could also give you a prescription to help with altitude if your trip will take you to high mountains like the Himalaya or the Andes.

You should have your flu shot, but it won't really protect you against things like the Bird Flu. Your travel medicine doctor might give you a prescription for an anti-viral medication if you are going into an area where Bird Flu is prevalent. Remember what we said before though... unless you are handling those birds... or snuffling bird feathers, you should be OK.

SHOTS...? International Travel Health Vaccinations?
....It's Not So Bad

Need a little more info for your travels? Go ahead and search, but we'd love to have you back, so us... make us a favorite! Then... what could be more convenient than to search from here!

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it!   Judy and Mark

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