Vaccination, Always a Good Travel Insurance
The danger of contracting a disease is very common and can happen to anyone passing through first world to developing countries. While the lush tropic jungles and sandy beaches of nations along the Pacific and Indian oceans may have different strains of virus thought to be eliminated decades ago, the risk of going down with preventable diseases still remains high even in Europe and North America.
Your travel insurance may cover you only so much. Below are some tips on how to go about having your health shots and enjoy an illness-free vacation.
Make sure you are adequately protected against measles, mumps, and rubella bugs, which are prevalent in many continents. Likewise, Hepatitis A and B are widespread in areas where there is substandard sanitation. Vaccines for both diseases are also common and can be had anywhere.
Other diseases common in your exotic destinations are pertussis or whooping cough, poliomyelitis, typhoid, tuberculosis, and rabies. Discuss with a specialist on tropical diseases if you intend to take immunization for said diseases.
Review the health condition of the place you are visiting. At least two months before departure, see your physician or healthcare provider for a health consultation, review your vaccination history, and ask for recommendations based on the prior trip research. Moreover, the shots given when you were a toddler may also need to be updated. As an example, individuals who were born in the 1950s and 1960s should update their tetanus booster with at least two doses of vaccine that contain measles. Since tetanus and diphtheria are rare in the US and Canada, travellers from these countries are advised to get a Td vaccine booster dose every decade for optimum protection.
Schedule the procedure at least a month before you leave. This is because most shots have some minor side effects such as soreness and low-grade fever. Remember all the shots that you will be given or let your travelling companion know what they are. To be on the safe side, ask for some certification for all shots you have received. Some countries such as Saudi Arabia require a guarantee of having received a quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine for meningococcal diseases. The World Health Organization, for instance, also requires documentation for yellow fever vaccination for entry and departure in Africa and South America.
Require trip buddies to have the same immunization. If you're tagging a child along your journeys, make sure he or she has been given the primary vaccination series.
You can also seek advice from travel clinics. These health centers can give a short course on travel health education and offer first aid tips and the necessary prescription medicines for common health problems.
Viruses are forever evolving and some shots may not work against new strains. Also, there are many other health problems that are not preventable by vaccines. Immunization is not a panacea for all your travel health concerns. Exercise extreme care when going with crowds, public bathing, or dining out. When planning a trip, secure a travel insurance that can cover medical expenses and other losses incurred while on the road. There is also temporary cheap travel insurance that can be had while in mid-transit. Safety should take precedence before all the fun, so make sure you're protected anywhere you go.
Your travel insurance may cover you only so much. Below are some tips on how to go about having your health shots and enjoy an illness-free vacation.
Make sure you are adequately protected against measles, mumps, and rubella bugs, which are prevalent in many continents. Likewise, Hepatitis A and B are widespread in areas where there is substandard sanitation. Vaccines for both diseases are also common and can be had anywhere.
Other diseases common in your exotic destinations are pertussis or whooping cough, poliomyelitis, typhoid, tuberculosis, and rabies. Discuss with a specialist on tropical diseases if you intend to take immunization for said diseases.
Review the health condition of the place you are visiting. At least two months before departure, see your physician or healthcare provider for a health consultation, review your vaccination history, and ask for recommendations based on the prior trip research. Moreover, the shots given when you were a toddler may also need to be updated. As an example, individuals who were born in the 1950s and 1960s should update their tetanus booster with at least two doses of vaccine that contain measles. Since tetanus and diphtheria are rare in the US and Canada, travellers from these countries are advised to get a Td vaccine booster dose every decade for optimum protection.
Schedule the procedure at least a month before you leave. This is because most shots have some minor side effects such as soreness and low-grade fever. Remember all the shots that you will be given or let your travelling companion know what they are. To be on the safe side, ask for some certification for all shots you have received. Some countries such as Saudi Arabia require a guarantee of having received a quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine for meningococcal diseases. The World Health Organization, for instance, also requires documentation for yellow fever vaccination for entry and departure in Africa and South America.
Require trip buddies to have the same immunization. If you're tagging a child along your journeys, make sure he or she has been given the primary vaccination series.
You can also seek advice from travel clinics. These health centers can give a short course on travel health education and offer first aid tips and the necessary prescription medicines for common health problems.
Viruses are forever evolving and some shots may not work against new strains. Also, there are many other health problems that are not preventable by vaccines. Immunization is not a panacea for all your travel health concerns. Exercise extreme care when going with crowds, public bathing, or dining out. When planning a trip, secure a travel insurance that can cover medical expenses and other losses incurred while on the road. There is also temporary cheap travel insurance that can be had while in mid-transit. Safety should take precedence before all the fun, so make sure you're protected anywhere you go.
