Vaccinations

For your international travel vaccinations, go to your doctor and discuss your travel plans well before you have to leave.

Try to do this at least 2-3 months before you leave. Depending on where you are going, you may need some immunizations or medications.

Some travel vaccinations take a few months to take effect or require a few visits back to the doctor’s office.

Some doctors will advise you to get vaccinated against absolutely everything, others will be more sympathetic to your budget and destinations.

Common vaccinations include:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Meningitis
  • Yellow Fever
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid/Diphtheria
  • MMR booster (measles, mumps and rubella)
  • Polio and Cholera
  • Japanese encephalitis

To read a great article on abroad travel vaccinations  Click Here.

For protection against Malaria, when we visited Africa we used Doxycycline. There are other options, but once again please consult your doctor. If going to infected areas, such as Africa, it’s a good idea to carry a mosquito net.

These are cheap, take up no space in your backpack, and are very light to carry. You can hang them over your bed. Also, wear long sleeve clothes when necessary and use repellent.

For detailed facts on Malaria click here.

Helpful Hints:

  • Keep a record of your vaccinations. It’s hard to remember what you have had and when you need your boosters etc…