When it comes to travel, there are lots of things to prepare: passports, visas, medications, etc. However, in this preparation, people often forget that their safety against diseases also plays a significant role. For that, vaccinations are the best way to keep yourself safe. But for what diseases should you get vaccinated, where can you get vaccinated, and when? All these questions will be answered in this checklist for Travel Vaccinations FAQs. Talk to our specialist for infectious diseases if you have any concerns.

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A checklist for Travel Vaccination: common FAQs answered
Here is the checklist of FAQs for travel vaccination you need to know about:
1. What do you mean by travel vaccines and why is it necessary?
Ans. Travel vaccines also known as travel immunizations are specific vaccine shots for travelers before they visit certain areas of the world to protect themselves from serious illnesses. Vaccinations work by exposing your body to dead or inactive virus germs that allow your immune system to produce antibodies to protect the body from viral strains. These antibodies will protect you if you get exposed to the disease in the future. These vaccines are safe, effective ways to protect travelers from getting infected on their journey and bring home what they shouldn’t.
Keep in mind that not every travel destination requires specific vaccinations. However, protecting your health is the top priority when you visit a certain area or country that has certain diseases that are highly contagious and cause severe symptoms if you get infected. Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself. It becomes more necessary if you’re pregnant or have an ongoing illness or weakened immune system. It also helps you to stay up to date with routine vaccinations. Measles is rare in the United States, but common in other countries.

2. What vaccines are required if you’ll be traveling on cruises?
Ans. Cruises are mostly packed with a lot of people in tight quarters, especially during things like mealtimes and shows. So, there’s a risk that respiratory viruses like flu, COVID-19, and colds can spread very quickly. So, to protect yourself you need to stay up to date with routine vaccinations, including vaccines for:
• COVID-19
• Flu
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Tetanus

3. What vaccines are required for international travel?
Ans. For international travel, not only vaccines but there are many things you should consider protecting your health. First, no matter where you plan to go, make sure you stay up to date on all routine vaccines which include:
• Measles-mumps-rubella
• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
• Chickenpox
• Polio
• Hepatitis B
• Annual flu vaccine
• COIVID-19
Besides this, many travelers also get vaccinated for hepatitis A and typhoid. Other vaccines depend on your travel destination. For instance, if you visit certain parts of Africa and South America, you must be vaccinated against yellow fever. If you see countries like Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe, you may not need extra vaccines.
However, if you plan to travel to a part of the world where you may get exposed to insects or animals, unsanitary water, or rare disease outbreaks. For that, it is recommended you take mosquito and animal prevention measures by learning about the destination.
To learn about the destination, you can search online about the country or check the CDC’s website to check the “Travelers health” section to learn what exactly you need to know about the destination. You can look for things in the “healthy travel packing list” you need to keep safe such as medicines and recommended vaccines. You should also check the travel health notices to know if any outbreaks or disasters have occurred in the place you are visiting. It also helps you to learn what you should avoid, lowering the risk of your exposure to diseases.

4. Where can you take vaccines for travel?
Ans. To take vaccines for travel you can consult your primary healthcare provider who helps you with routine vaccinations or check your vaccination status. You should check in with your provider as soon as you make travel plans because some vaccines may need multiple doses at particular time frames. In case of specific vaccines for your required destination, you’ll need to get vaccinated from a travel clinic.
These clinics offer many different vaccine doses you need for your travel. In case you need a yellow fever vaccine, you may need to visit an authorized yellow fever vaccine clinic. You can look for travel clinics or vaccine-authorized centers online or find them on the CDC’s website.

5. Besides getting vaccinated, what are the things you should be careful about while traveling?
Ans. Getting vaccinated is just a part of many things you should be careful about while traveling. Here are the other things you should be careful about:
• Beware of unsafe water: Drinking tap water or unsanitary water can make your pleasant experience an unpleasant one. So, do some research before drinking that area water or stick to bottled water.
• Choose food carefully: You don’t know where food is sourced from in foreign countries, so avoid food with infectious diseases, stick to reputable establishments, and avoid street vendors.
• Stay hydrated: During a vacation, chances are you’ll travel a lot on foot and if you travel in summer, you can get easily dehydrated. To avoid that, dress in layers and drink a lot of fluids.
If you get mildly sick or have stomach issues, then you should visit a pharmacy to help because pharmacies and pharmacists can be extremely helpful in this situation as they help you get prescription medications or over-the-counter medication that’ll help you manage your symptoms and make you feel better.

For international travel, there are many things you need to prepare, one of them being vaccinations and health safety preparation. Make sure you stay up to date with the routine vaccinations, get specific vaccines that are required to protect yourself in other countries, and take all vaccine doses as soon as you plan your trip to ensure that you get fully immunized before traveling.

Need help with vaccines or infectious diseases, call us to get a free consultation from experts. For more brief help, visit our infectious diseases doctor in our Brooklyn clinic for professional medical help!!!
Visit our team of Specialists for infectious diseases at Doral Health & Wellness on 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. Call us on 13473845690 to get a consultation from our clinic or log on to https://doralhw.org/.