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Immunizations
For The
Traveler |
Travelers
to other countries may find themselves turned away at the
border or airport,
or put in lengthy quarantine, particularly countries in Asia, Africa and
South America if they fail to
anticipate required vaccinations or immunizations. Also,
certain immunizations are recommended, although not required,
and travelers are advised to check these recommendations as
well. Please view the following Information on both required and recommended
immunizations.
Take Care of Immunizations Early, many vaccinations require several days or weeks to take
effect; you will want to anticipate any "holding
period" well before you travel.
Links
Many of the links below are accessible at the Center
for Disease Control's Travel Information Web site; we tried to put them into context below, and added some
explanation and tips. One of the best overall resources for healthy travel
information is the Moon Handbook's Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, by Dirk
Schroeder, Sc D, MPH. Despite the title, most of the
information found therein is of use worldwide.
Infectious Diseases Links
A simple, easy-to-read list of infectious diseases listed by
country, the Summary
of Health Information for International Travel, also known
as The Blue Sheet.
Immunizations / Vaccination Links
Required immunizations vary greatly by country; the Center for
Disease Health Information for International Travel, also
known as The
Yellow Book, is the definitive resource for this
frequently changing information.
For extensive additional information by region, including
recommended vaccinations, see the CDC's Geographic
Health Recommendations.
Another extremely useful resource is the CDC's Vaccine
Recommendations, which includes information about which
routine vaccinations, such as those most Americans receive as
children, require periodic boosters. A short list of common
vaccinations and booster requirements follows:
- Tetanus/Diphtheria: booster every 10 years.
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella: if born after 1957, one dose of each;
if given after 1967, the vaccination is good for life.
- Polio: If immunized, get a booster before traveling abroad.
- Yellow Fever: immunization valid for 10 years.
- Cholera: immunization valid 6 months. 50% effective.
- Meningococcal Meningitis: immunization good for 2-3 years.
Multiple Country Itineraries
Some countries that do not require vaccinations, for instance
for yellow fever, are nonetheless infected with yellow fever.
In some cases, travelers from the US are not required to have
certain vaccinations, but if you are entering a country from a
nation other than the U.S., you may need the vaccination. Be
sure to do the proper research to anticipate these types of
requirements.
The Yellow Health Card
All immunizations must be recorded and presented on an
official International Certificate of Vaccination, also known
as the "yellow health card." Your doctor or health
care provider will fill out the card, and you must get an
official stamp, obtainable from your county health department
(some doctors can also provide the stamp at the time of
vaccination).
Yellow Fever Tips
Yellow fever is the most commonly required immunization; the
CDC maintains a page dedicated to yellow fever vaccinations, Comprehensive
Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements.
Malaria Tips
Transmitted by the bite of a malaria-infected mosquito,
malaria is common throughout the world. A plethora of
information outlining yellow fever and malaria conditions,
organized by country, can be found here.
The possibility of good news is on the horizon: Researchers
have made a crucial breakthrough in the development of a
vaccine for Malaria, and much progress has also been made in
the area of preventative drugs.
The CDC maintains an extensive information page on malaria
symptoms and identification, its avoidance and treatment,
and much more.
Mothers Breast-feeding, Children, Pregnant Women
Many immunizations are unsafe for children and pregnant women,
although most are safe for breast-feeding mothers. People with
possible contraindications for vaccinations, as well as
persons with HIV and AIDS, may be at risk from possible side
effects of some immunizations. Be certain to speak to a doctor
or health worker about possible side effects.
For more information, see Vaccine
Recommendations for Infants and Children.
You Cannot Receive Certain Required Vaccinations
if you cannot receive a required vaccination for health
reasons, you should carry a note from your doctor verifying
the condition, and have this stamped with the official stamp.
Please Beware Unsanitary Conditions
If you need to get a vaccination while traveling, note that
some third world immunization clinics may be unsanitary; in
some cases, clinics may use the same needle repeatedly. If
conditions appear suspect, check with your embassy for
recommendations on acceptable clinics.
Agency contact information for assistance:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333 |
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