Travel vaccinations should definitely be on your to-do list when planning your next holiday or work trip overseas. It’s important to prioritise your travel vaccinations well in advance, as you’ll have to receive them well before you take off to ensure they have time to take effect. The type of vaccination you need depends on your travel destination, of course, as well as the duration of your trip and the form of travelling you plan to do (i.e., taking part in activities that increase your exposure to various diseases or infections).

The cost you can expect to pay vaccine providers will also vary, but some vaccines can cover you long-term and for future travel. While it’s essential to understand which specific vaccines you need for your destination, it’s advised that you protect yourself from some general diseases while travelling.

In this article, Team Medical Supplies breaks down everything you need to know about travel vaccinations.

What factors should you consider before receiving a vaccine before travelling?

Naturally, the health risks and diseases will differ from one region, country and destination to another, and they can also change over time as new viruses breakout in specific regions. As this happens, new vaccines may become available and offered for your travel destination. If you’ve already been vaccinated against a disease, you can check if any boosters are available, too.

It’s critical to visit your doctor before you travel and discuss your unique situation, and they’ll consider personal factors such as:

• Your travel destination and itinerary
• Your age
• Your vaccination history
• Your health condition and any illnesses and conditions you have
• The season of your travel

Which diseases should you vaccinate against?

Once your doctor knows a little bit more about you, they can develop an accurate picture of vaccinations worth receiving for your travel. These include:

COVID-19

After the global pandemic, this vaccine has become a common requirement for travel in many regions, including a recent booster.

Yellow Fever

Many countries list a Yellow Fever vaccination as a requirement for entry. These countries typically have a mosquito vector presence, so they have a high risk of an outbreak. Yellow Fever vaccinations can also be required regardless of whether the risk is present.

Meningococcal disease

Vaccines for Meningococcal Meningitis are given to travellers from a country with a current outbreak or to the African Meningitis Belt. Some counties require proof that visitors have been vaccinated against this disease before permitting entrance.

Rabies

Rabies protection is provided through pre-exposure shots, allowing you more time to seek treatment if you’re exposed to rabies through an animal bite.

Polio

Some countries list the Polio vaccine as a requirement of entry because of the disease’s risk of transmission.

Japanese encephalitis

This vaccine is often provided to travellers to rural areas of Southeast Asia, particularly those who will visit agricultural regions.

Typhoid

Particularly when travelling to areas with poor sanitation, the typhoid vaccine is often provided to those travelling in high-risk regions like Southeast Asia and parts of South America.

Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B

Hepatitis vaccines are great value for money as they protect you long-term and can cover you for future travel.

What are some other common vaccines?

Other common diseases vaccinated against include:

• Chickenpox
• Cholera
• Tuberculosis
• Measles
• Influenza, or the flu
• Tetanus

These are the most common vaccinations administered to people travelling around the world, but as stated, there may be other diseases that need protecting against along your travels. For more information on the various travel vaccines available and the best manner to administer them, please contact us at Team Medical Supplies today by calling 1300 22 44 50 or submitting an online contact form.