One of the things you have to think about in an early stage once you know you want to travel the world is travel vaccines. It’s one of those things people often forget or don’t want to think about. But some travel vaccines to travel the world need a couple of doses and it would be a shame if you get denied access to a country because you’re not vaccinated.
What travel vaccines you need to get depends on where you’re going. Usually, you book an appointment at a travelers clinic to figure this out and to make sure you get the right travel vaccines. In this article we want to talk a little bit about the most common travel vaccines and when you need them.
Now that we’re living in a world after a pandemic we feel Covid has become part of this list because a lot of countries still have certain requirements for you to enter.
Check your childhood vaccines
Most countries have a vaccination program for children. These included but are not limited to:
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-whooping cough (Pertussis)
- Polio
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Influenza
If for some reason you didn’t get vaccinated as a child you might need to get these if you want to travel the world. A lot of these diseases are still active in other parts of the world and you don’t want to risk getting sick abroad.
Travel Vaccines
- Hepatitis A + B
- DTP
- Typhoid
- Rabies
- Malaria
- Japanese encephalitis
- Yellow fever
- Tuberculosis
- Meningococcal Disease
- Cholera
- Covid-19
Hepatitis A + B
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. But Hepatitis A & B have a different cause.
Hepatitis A is caused by poor hygiene. Because there are good sanitation facilities in the West, we have not built up antibodies against hepatitis.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and/or sexual contact. If you stay in an area where Hepatitis B occurs for more than 3 months, it is recommended that you get vaccinated for this.
How long does the vaccination process take: 6 months (3 shots)
How long is it valid: Hepatitis A: 25 years, Hepatitis B: lifelong
DTP – Diphtheria-Tetanus-Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
As a child, you are also vaccinated for this. That is why you only need one injection later in life to keep the protection. If you did not have this vaccination as a child, you will need several vaccinations.
How long does the vaccination process take: 1 time
How long is it valid: 10 years
Typhoid
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused by salmonella bacteria. This bacteria is transmitted through poor hygiene. Typhoid fever causes intestinal complaints. In addition to the vaccination, it is also important to wash your hands well after visiting the toilet and before eating.
How long does the vaccination process take: 1 time
How long is it valid: 3 years
Rabies
Rabies is transmitted by dogs, bats, foxes, and monkeys. You get this disease through a bite by one of these animals, but licking or scratching can also cause this disease. Rabies is a serious inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. This disease almost always leads to death.
Thanks to the series of 3 vaccinations, you no longer need an antiserum for a bite. This antiserum is not available everywhere and must be administered within 24 hours. You do need additional vaccinations at that time to combat the disease.
How long does the vaccination process take: 1 month (3 shots)
How long is this valid: no longer need antiserum for life, with a bite 2 shots instead of 5
Malaria
Malaria is caused by mosquitoes. No vaccination is available. Instead, you can protect yourself by taking malaria pills. You can choose from two tablets for Malaria, one you take daily (Malarone) and the other you take weekly (Lariam).
Nowadays, the advice regarding taking Malaria pills has changed. In many areas, emergency treatment is sufficient and you no longer have to take preventive malaria pills.
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by mosquitoes. The risk of Japanese encephalitis is particularly high in rural areas and near rice fields.
People who spend a month or more in Asia or the Torres Strait region of Australia during the wet season should get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis.
How long does the vaccination process take: 4 weeks (2 shots)
Yellow fever
Yellow fever can be a serious disease. It causes fever, and yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and damages the liver and kidneys. Mosquitoes spread yellow fever. It is found in Africa, the Caribbean, and Central, and South America.
You must be immunized for yellow fever before you can legally enter some countries.
How long does the vaccination process take: 1 time
How long is this valid: Most people need only 1 vaccination for lifelong protection
Tuberculosis
This is an infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacteria. The most common form is pulmonary tuberculosis. This disease is transmitted through coughing.
The vaccine does not prevent a person from becoming infected with TB if exposed to it and it’s usually only given to children aged 5 years or under.
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a contagious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria.
The virus is in the throat of someone infected. Coughing and sneezing release small droplets containing the virus into the air. Humans can breathe in these droplets and become infected.
The virus is also found in the stool of someone who carries the virus. The faeces are then contagious. Someone who has viral meningitis can infect others through their hands.
How long does the vaccination process take: 1 time
How long is this valid: 5 years
Cholera
Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by cholera bacteria. It’s transmitted through poor hygiene: someone who is infected excretes the bacteria in their feces and it ends up in your stomach via food or water. The chance of being infected with cholera is very small in most areas if you take the usual precautions such as washing your hands and being careful about what you eat and drink.
Covid-19
Some countries request that you have at least 2 shots for Covid-19. Others accept a negative PCR test before entering the country. Because the requirements change all the time it’s hard to tell you one truth. Just make sure you check before you leave what the requirements are for where you’re going.
Some countries might require you to wear face masks in public areas and some countries still have an app or QR code that you need to scan. Be aware of these restrictions and follow the regulations in the country you’re traveling to.
Check your Health Insurance
Do some research before getting your travel vaccines to travel the world. Sometimes your health insurance covers getting these vaccines. You might need to go to a certain clinic or a certain doctor. It’s always more difficult to get approval afterward.
If your insurance doesn’t cover these costs, do some research online and look for the best price. If you’re traveling the world you need almost all of these vaccines and they can get quite expensive. Not getting them and getting sick will set you back further, so don’t skip these to save money.
Get these travel vaccines to travel the world
A lot of these vaccines on this list are just to prevent you from getting a serious disease. Nobody will ask to see proof that you got these vaccines. Maybe if you end up in a hospital or something, but not at immigration or boarding a plane.
It’s different for Covid-19, Yellow Fever, and Meningococcal Disease. You need to show proof that you either got vaccinated or show a negative PCR test (Covid-19). Since we’re back on the road we’ve had to show our papers at every airport.
Yellow Fever is found in Africa, the Caribbean, and Central, and South America. Saudi Arabia makes meningitis vaccination mandatory for pilgrims; Hajj and Umrah. You need to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever and Meningococcal Disease at least 10 days before you enter the country.
Make sure to get the proper travel vaccines to travel the world before you leave. This way you don’t have to worry about being denied access or getting admitted to a hospital or even worse.
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