Traveller vaccination overview

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Traveler Vaccination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]

Overview

Vaccination is a highly effective method of preventing certain infectious diseases. Vaccines are generally very safe and serious adverse reactions are uncommon. For travellers, vaccination offers the possibility of avoiding some infectious diseases that may be encountered abroad. However, satisfactory vaccines have not yet been developed against several of the most life-threatening conditions, including tuberculosis, malaria and HIV infection.

Planning before travel

Before departure, travellers should be advised about the risk of disease in the country or countries they plan to visit and the steps to be taken to prevent illness. There is no single vaccination schedule that fits all travellers. Each schedule must be individualized according to the traveller’s previous immunizations, health status and risk factors, the countries to be visited, the type and duration of travel, and the amount of time available before departure.