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Travel Vaccinations - How to Avoid Catching Diseases Abroad

Tropical areas of the world can be full of fascinating things to see and do, but these areas can also be more prone to disease.

Whether you are travelling for a week or a year, you might need travel vaccinations depending on which country you are travelling to and the types of diseases that exist there. With rural travel becoming more and more popular, the need for vaccinations is greater than ever.

What you need to know about travel vaccinations:

• Visit your doctor or travel clinic eight weeks prior to departure to discuss your travel plans. They will be able to tell you which vaccinations you will need
• Go to www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk with its database of countries and vaccination requirements
• Check your existing vaccinations are up to date - it might be time for a booster
• Some vaccinations cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions - ask your doctor for details
• If you are vaccinated for yellow fever, hang onto the certificate as you might need to show it to enter the country
• Your travel plans may affect which vaccinations you will need e.g. working with animals could expose you to rabies
• Some vaccinations incur a charge so work this into your travel budget - don't scrimp on vaccinations to save money
• Travel vaccinations administered by your GP will be cheaper than at private clinics
• The injection site can become sore so allow time to rest after you receive them
• Some vaccines carry side effects, but they are nowhere near as bad as the disease you are being protected against
• Allow plenty of time to get your vaccinations as you may need a course of injections

Vaccines make travel safer. Some diseases can be life threatening so it's important that travel vaccinations are factored into the planning stage of your holiday or trip abroad.

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