Do you need vaccinations to travel abroad?

When traveling abroad it is always a good idea to check with your physician as to what health precautions – and maybe even vaccinations – you will need.

Depending on where you are traveling to you may need vaccinations. According to Vaccines.gov, while some vaccinations may be recommended for travelers, others may be required before you are allowed to travel to certain countries.

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Some factors that will determine if you need vaccines include risk of exposure to diseases in the country you're visiting, your current age and health, the length of your visit and any risk that you might infect others while travelling.

The types of vaccinations you will need depends on which country – and even which part of the country – you will be traveling to.

The World Health Organization and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all travelers be up-to-date on the following vaccines before traveling abroad:

  • Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (Tdap)
  • Hepatitis B (HBV)
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Poliomyelitis (IPV)

Vaccines.gov recommends meeting with your physician before your trip to go over what vaccines you will need, as well as what other medical precautions you may need to take. People with diabetes, HIV, or those who are pregnant or breast feeding may need to take additional precautions.

For more information on traveling abroad, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the following resources: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/traveler-information-center