By Kathleen Crislip
Student Travel Expert, about.com
Question: Do I Need Immunizations for Travel?
Do
I need travel immunizations or shots for travel? What kind of travel
immunizations do I need? How can I prove I've had immunizations while
traveling?
Answer: Whether or not you need
immunizations for travel (shots!) depends in part on where you will be
traveling. Not every country is going to demand that you already have
shots before you travel to that country -- your concern will be more
whether you *want* immunizations for travel.
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If you're particularly interested in Africa, where immunizations are most likely to be required, go straight to Africa Travel Immunizations.
Who Recommends the Immunizations I Want for Travel?
Your
doctor's office is a key place to ask what immunizations are
recommended for your travel. You can also do the research yourself with
the links below.
How Can I Prove I've Had Vaccinations for Travel (and Who Wants to Know)?
You
can get an international health certificate from your doc which shows
what immunizations you've had -- it's signed by your doc's office.
International health certificates are available
through the government, but it's usually easier to just do the deal
with your doc.
Immigration officials in some countries may ask you
for immunization certification proving you've had immunizations against
cholera and yellow fever, and you may have to prove you had your
childhood shots (like chicken pox) to some overseas employers -- if you
think you may need it, prepare now by asking your childhood doc's office
for a record. Your elementary school may also have the record. You may
want to read about recommended vaccinations for children up to 18 years old.
[post_ads]Which Immunizations Do I Need for Travel?
See
a pretty comprehensive list of infectious diseases and recommended
prevention, including immunization, of interest to travelers to
developing countries. In particular, you should know about vaccinations
against yellow fever.
When
you call to set up an appointment and when you go to get travel
immunizations, have ready a list of countries to which you will be
traveling; the doc's office will make immunization recommendations.
Check out a clickable destination health map from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
-- choose your global destination and see which travel vaccinations are
recommended. If you prepare, you'll know which travel vaccinations you
don't *have* to get if you don't want 'em (vaccinations can be spendy).
Is There a Vaccine for Malaria?
There is no vaccination against malaria -- your best bet is to keep malaria-carrying mosquitoes off your skin with good insect repellent. You may also want to look into malaria pills -- deal with those at least six weeks in advance of travel.
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Bug dope with famously smelly DEET is great mosquito protection and is endorsed by the Center for Disease Control,
or CDC, which watches health issues for US citizens. Use insect
repellent containing DEET with care -- it's strong stuff. I put a few
drops of Ben's (my personal insect repellent choice when DEET must be
used) in my palms, rub them together and pat my clothes and hair. Works.
If you don't like the stink of DEET, try a natural insect repellent or one containing picaridin -- in 2006, the CDC also gave its seal of approval to picaridin
(pick-CARE-a-den) as an effective anti-skeet agent. And finally, oil of
lemon eucalyptus works as well as low concentrations of DEET, according
to the CDC.
