Seeing a Travel Doctor

If you are planning a vacation adventure overseas, you should consider a consultation with your local travel doctor first. It’s important that you do this as soon as possible because some vaccinations take up to 8 weeks to be effective.   You will want to keep your body healthy while checking out the local scene and doing some sightseeing. Make sure your medications are up-to-date and in proper containers to avoid any issues going through customs.

What Vaccinations are Required for International Travel?

The following information is intended as a guide only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Vaccinations that are Required for International Travel depends on several factors.  Where are you planning your travel, and what time of the year will you be there.   Something else to consider is what you plan to do while on your vacation. For example, Hiking in the mountains versus swimming at the local beach. Each presents its; own risk of exposure to various types of disease and therefore, may require a different type of protection.  Keep in mind that some countries have a higher overall risk to disease than others. You can avoid most of your travel-related illnesses through the use of preventative medicine and getting vaccinated. Always make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis-B, etc… The following list contains common vaccinations for international travel. Chickenpox Cholera, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal Meningitis, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Tickborne Encephalitis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid fever, Yellow fever It is important that you consult with your travel doctor, letting them know your plans for travel.

Where can I Get Vaccinations for International Travel?

The best way to find a Travel Doctor near you is to just search online for “Travel Clinic”.

Finding affordable vaccines is a common question many people ask.  The good news is that if you live in North America and you have health insurance, many vaccines are covered by your insurance provider.  If you do not have health insurance, you do have the option of getting only those vaccines that are a priority through your Local Public Health Department, Community Health Centers, Free Clinics and Pharmacies.  Your travel doctor can work with you to prioritize what shots to take based on a few questions.

Topics You Want to Discuss With the Travel Doctor:

What is the risk level of catching a particular disease at your destination Your Travel Doctor can pinpoint any illnesses that are prevalent at your planned destination, and inform you of any outbreaks or ongoing epidemics that are vaccine-preventable. How much time will I need prior to departure for the vaccine to be effective Some vaccines require multiple visits to your travel doctor, sometimes referred to as a “booster shot”. In other words, you will need to receive certain shots over a period of time before they will be the most effective. Activities am I planning once I reach my destination As mentioned earlier, your activities will determine your risk of exposure to certain illness. One example would be hiking in a wooded area of Thailand, can expose you to Dengue Fever which is a mosquito-borne disease very common in Asian countries. At the time of this writing, there is no vaccine that will prevent Dengue Fever, and the best way to lower your risk is to use some form of mosquito repellent. How long will you stay at your destination Your travel Doctor will probably ask you about the length of your travel. The longer your stay has a direct impact on what diseases you get exposed to. Another factor is the time of year, as certain diseases that thrive during the rainy season but are less threatening during the dry season. Is there an alternative treatment to certain vaccinations Talk to your healthcare provider and inform them of any medications you currently take to avoid an adverse reaction to any of the recommended vaccines. You may also be allergic to certain vaccines, so make sure to share any relevant medical history with your doctor.

How Soon After Vaccination Can My Baby Travel?

Ask your pediatrician, who can make an assessment of your child’s condition…

Travel vaccinations for babies and adults can be classified into 3 different categories:

Vaccination Categories: Routine, Recommended and Required.

Routine Vaccinations Routine vaccines and immunizations in the United States start at birth.  These are usually a series of shots administered on a schedule and continue into adulthood. Recommended Vaccinations Recommended vaccines are just that a “recommendation” which is usually based on your travel destination and what diseases are most prevalent at the time.  You can still travel without getting the vaccines, you just run the risk of catching something that could have been prevented with a vaccine. Required Vaccinations Some countries require that you produce documentation showing you have received a vaccination, or that you are exempt from having the vaccination before they will allow you to enter the country. If you are planning to do some international travel you should at least get vaccinated for Hep A and Typhoid.  Most other vaccines are prescribed based on your travel destination.  For example, if you are traveling to places where the possibility of catching malaria exists, you may want to consider an anti-malaria prescription.

Routine Vaccinations

You can visit the CDC’s website at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Check their “Travelers Health” section to learn what you need when traveling to another country.

Do You Need a Prescription for Vaccines?

This Will Vary from State to State

Not all vaccines require a prescription, but for those that do, your Travel Doctor will be able to assist you.,  It would be a good idea to bring your travel itinerary if you have one so that you can review it with the doctor.  This will help determine any immunizations you will need for your travels.

What are the Side Effects of Vaccines?

Most people don’t have serious side effects

Some of the most common side effects of vaccines include:

• Pain, swelling, or redness in the shot area
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• A headache
• Muscle and joint pain

There are rare cases where serious side effects occur as a result of an allergic reaction to a vaccine.  Contact your doctor immediately should you experience more than the common side effects listed above. We hope this information was helpful. You can find many other tips on visiting the Philippines by visiting our website at www.easycondorental.com.