Getting Ready for Trips Abroad
It’s summer now, which means one thing… vacations!
If you’re going out of the country on a vacation, one thing you need to be absolutely sure you do is get your travel vaccines. Different countries have illnesses and diseases that are more prevalent there than here in the US. With that in mind, the vaccines you require when traveling to different countries vary from place to place. Some common vaccines you will get are for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, polio, measles, Japanese encephalitis, anthrax, and cholera. Special considerations should be taken for they types of travel you will be doing. If you are going hiking or exploring a foreign wilderness, you may need to have different vaccines than if you were just going to spend your time in an urban area.
To minimize getting sick when visiting a foreign country, be sure to wear bug repellent, minimize your contact with animals, and use antibacterial soap when washing your hands. Doing these things cuts down on your exposure to foreign germs. Also keep in mind that food and water regulations vary from country to country, so be careful what you eat and drink when you’re abroad.
Along with your travel vaccines, you should keep your normal routine vaccines updated. Be sure to get your vaccines taken care of well in advance of your trip to another country. I recommend you get them at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel to make sure the vaccine is active in your immune system.
If you’re not sure where to get your travel vaccines, look no further! We offer some travel vaccines here at HealthCARE Express. Come visit us, and we can get you prepped for your trip.
Happy traveling,
Tim Reynolds, M.D.
