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Patient education: Vaccines for travel (The Basics)

Patient education: Vaccines for travel (The Basics)

What are vaccines? — Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections. They work by teaching the body how to fight the germs that cause the infections. Vaccines usually come in shots, but some come in pills. Vaccines are also called "vaccinations" or "immunizations."

Why should I get vaccinated? — Different infections are found in different countries. People can get infections when they travel to other parts of the world. Getting vaccinated can help keep you from getting sick when you travel.

What vaccines do I need? — The vaccines that you will need depend on:

What countries you will travel to and what time of the year you will travel

How long you will stay, where you will stay, and what you will do there

Your medical conditions

Which vaccines you have had in the past

If you have allergies to substances in the vaccines

Once your doctor or nurse has this information, they will recommend certain vaccines for you to get. These might include vaccines to prevent 1 or more of the following infections:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – This is an infection caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It can cause a fever, cough, and trouble breathing, along with other symptoms. Some people get severely ill from COVID-19. Some countries require proof that visitors have gotten this vaccine before they can enter the country.

Yellow fever – Yellow fever is found in parts of Africa and Central and South America (figure 1 and figure 2). People can get it after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The infection can cause liver problems and is sometimes fatal. Some countries require proof that visitors have gotten this vaccine before they can enter the country.

Typhoid – Typhoid is found in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. People can get it from drinking unclean water. It can cause a fever, rash, and belly pain.

Hepatitis A – Hepatitis A is found all over the world. People can get it from eating or drinking unclean food or water. Hepatitis A can cause severe liver problems.

Japanese encephalitis – Japanese encephalitis is found in parts of Asia. People can get it after being bitten by an infected mosquito. It can cause long-term problems with the nervous system, and is sometimes fatal.

Rabies – Rabies is found all over the world. People can get it after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Rabies can cause behavior changes, paralysis, or death. (Paralysis is when people are unable to move their arms or legs.) Most travelers do not need to be vaccinated against rabies, but some do.

If you did not get certain vaccines when you were younger, you might need other vaccines, too. These can include vaccines to protect against:

Polio – Polio can cause muscle weakness and pain, and lead to long-term paralysis.

Tetanus and diphtheria – Vaccines for these 2 diseases are usually combined in 1 shot. Tetanus causes the muscles to work abnormally. Diphtheria can cause a thick covering in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems.

Measles – Measles can cause a rash, fever, and cough. It can lead to long-term problems of the lungs, ears, or brain.

Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B can cause long-term liver problems or liver cancer.

Meningococcus – Meningococcus is a germ that can cause a serious body-wide infection of the blood or the tissues around the brain and spinal cord.

There is a tool available through Massachusetts General Hospital that lets you enter your age and where you plan to travel, then gives you tips. This includes a checklist of things to do before, during, and after your trip. The information is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To use this tool, go to http://gten.travel/trhip/trhip.

How many vaccine doses do I need? — Each vaccine is different. Some vaccines work after just 1 dose. Others need 2 or more doses to prevent an infection.

Some vaccines prevent an infection for the rest of your life. Others do not. A "booster" is a vaccine dose given after a certain amount of time has passed. It reminds the body how to prevent an infection. People who got vaccines when younger might need booster doses before they travel.

When should I get vaccinated? — Most vaccines take 4 to 6 weeks to work. It can also take a few months to get all the doses you need. So it’s important to talk to your doctor about travel vaccines as soon as you know your travel plans.

What side effects can vaccines cause? — Often, vaccines cause no side effects. When they do cause side effects, they can cause:

Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where the shot was given

A mild fever

A mild rash

Headache or body aches

Vaccines also sometimes cause more serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions. But serious side effects are rare.

Ask your doctor or nurse what side effects to expect each time you get a vaccine. If you have a reaction or a problem after a vaccine, let your doctor or nurse know.

What if I have an egg allergy? — If you have an egg allergy, let your doctor or nurse know. Some vaccines can have egg in them because of how they are made. Your doctor or nurse will tell you which vaccines are safe to get.

More on this topic

Patient education: What you should know about vaccines (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for babies and children age 0 to 6 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Hepatitis B (The Basics)
Patient education: Staying healthy when you travel (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Enteric (typhoid and paratyphoid) fever (The Basics)

Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for infants and children age 0 to 6 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Why does my child need vaccines? (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Jan 02, 2023.
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