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Travel health; jabs and vaccinations

Health care pre-departure: Immunisations and medication

Before commencing overseas travel it is important to obtain the relevant vaccines. We are not going to provide a list of recommendations here but instead provide you with some information about some of the diseases that can be acquired overseas. In order to decide if you need vaccines and malaria tablets for your trip you should talk to a qualified health care professional. They will perform a "risk assessment" of your trip looking at - destination, length of trip, intended activities, standard of accommodation etc.

They can then let you know what vaccines you may need and what other health precautions you should take whilst you are away. Do this early - at least two months before you go - as some vaccinations can't be taken at the same time as others and some take a while to 'kick in'. Others require booster jabs some time after the initial injection. The injections recommended for each country can change so always check with a professional to find which jabs you need even if you think you know.

You usually need to pay for immunisations - after all it's your choice to go away - but check prices at your local travel clinic as they may be cheaper than your regular surgery. Also, make sure you keep a record of your jabs, especially your yellow fever certificate, as some countries insist on seeing this before they let you in.

Jabs you might need:

Diptheria

Encephalitis (Japanese)

Encephalitis (tick-borne)

Hepititis A

Hepatitis B

Meningococcal A and C

Polio

Rabies

Tetanus

Typhoid

Yellow Fever

Click here >> for the low-down on these diseases and more

Allergies - Take Extra Care
Allergy sufferers should take particular care abroad and should, where possible, take supplies of relevant drugs with them. So asthma sufferers should take spare inhalers and those with nut allergies should take epipens. Remember to check expiry dates on all these products. If your doctor is unwilling to give you a long-term prescription on the NHS, ask him or her to give you a private prescription. The cost of these is minimal compared to the risk of travelling without the drugs you need. Antihistamine drugs, widely available without a prescription, might help in the event of an unexpected allergic reaction.