Get Healthy – Stay Fit
There is nothing more exciting then adventuring to a foreign country and learning about different cultures. These days, however, it is necessary to protect yourself against what those countries, their residents, wildlife and vegetation may be carrying. Before you pack your bags and prepare your passport, there are a few questions and concerns you should be addressing.
The first thing you’ll want to do if you’re travelling to a place where there is a known history of diseases such as malaria, cholera, or HIV, you’re going to want to see your doctor, at least six weeks in advance of your trip as some vaccines are given in series and it will take that long to complete the course of the vaccine. It is also wise to make sure that you, and anybody you are planning on travelling with, is up-to-date on routine vaccinations, such as Tetanus, HPV (human papillomavirus), Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and Varicella.
Not only will your recommended vaccinations list be shorter if you are kept up to date on these, but your immune system will also be that much stronger. Most countries have recommended vaccinations that they suggest their visitors have before travel. To determine which vaccines which would be the most beneficial for you and your party, factor in things like how long you’ll be visiting, if you’ll be crossing any international borders, your age and health standing, and if you’ll be in a largely populated area.
If you’ll be taking children with you, they will have a separate list of recommended and routine vaccines that you will need to get them before travel. Many of the routine childhood vaccinations prevent diseases that are rare in America are still existent in other parts of the world. The vaccines that any child in your party should be up-to-date with are Hepatitis A and B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b (hib, for short), Polio, Rotavirus, MMR, and Pneumococcal. The highly recommended vaccines for infants and children are Rabies, Typhoid, and Japanese Encephalitis.
If you or anybody going with you may be pregnant, may become pregnant, or is pregnant, then it is suggested they have preconceptional immunization instead of vaccinations, as the immunizations, unlike the vaccines, decrease the risk of harm to the unborn child. If possible, pregnancy should be deferred for at least one month after live vaccinations because of the possible transfer of the disease to the foetus. Thus far, there have been no reports of birth defects because of the vaccines. The safest time for a pregnant woman to travel is in her second trimester, when she is between 18 and 24 weeks pregnant.
The only required vaccines by International Health Regulations, for adults, children and infants alike, is the yellow fever vaccine for travellers heading to Africa and Southern America, and the meningococcal vaccine for travel to Saudi Arabia. After receiving all the appropriate vaccines, you will need to get a certificate proving that you have received the injections from a medical institution under the care of a certified health care specialist.
