Safety & Health on the Road - Medical

Vaccinations

See your doctor or a travel medical clinic (preferred) for specifics as to which ones you need, as it depends on which countries you are travelling to. Ensure you allow lots of time to get all the shots, so you don't have to have them all at once! Also, some require as much as a month elapsed time between several shots, such as rabies.

The following list is from our own travels, received in Canada initially, then boosters in various countries over the years, primarily Australia, UK, Spain, and Cape Town.

• YELLOW FEVER - good for 10 years
• TYPHOID - Typhim Vi - good for 3 years
• POLIO SABIN - good for 10 years
• A.D.T. (Diptheria & Tetanus) - good for 10 years
• GAMMA GLOBULIN - Not recommended now as Havrix replaces it.
• HAVRIX (HEPATITIS A) - multiple shots, good for 10 years
• ENGERIX-B (HEPATITIS B) - good for 3-5 years
• MENINGITIS - good for 3 years
• RABIES - multiple shots, good for 3 years per BA Travel Clinic in Cape Town.

Vaccinations - Much more comprehensive explanations, excerpted from the Health Canada site

"Since it can take several weeks for an immunization to protect you against a disease, you should consult a travel health clinic or your family physician 2 to 3 months before your trip in order to allow enough time for the vaccines or immunizing agent to take effect.

The actual immunizations you may require will vary according to your age, health, and any pre-existing medical conditions, as well as the nature of your travel, whether you will be staying in city hotels or travelling in remote rural areas. A travel health clinic or family physician should assess your individual circumstances and provide any vaccines that may be required for your trip.

A list of diseases for which immunization may be required follows. Those which are recommended as part of the routine immunizations in Canada are marked with an asterix *.

Diphtheria*

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection of the throat, nose and tonsils, resulting in lesions in the infected area. In severe cases, it can cause swelling and fluid build-up in the neck. Diphtheria can also infect the skin, causing lesions similar to impetigo. A diphtheria booster shot is recommended every 10 years. All travellers should have up-to-date diphtheria shots prior to travel. This is particularly important because of the resurgence of diphtheria in some Eastern European countries.

European tick borne Encephalitis

European tick borne encephalitis is a viral disease resembling other encephalitides transmitted by mosquito bite. This disease is transmitted by tick bites and has a longer duration of symptoms. Vaccination is recommended for long-term travellers to areas where this disease is widespread, specifically areas of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union as well as parts of Europe during April through August .

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral disease affecting the liver. The symptoms include abrupt fever, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by jaundice (yellowing of skin colour). Hepatitis A varies in severity and duration of the illness. In rare cases it can cause fatal liver damage. Protection against Hepatitis A through immunization with Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travellers to developing countries, especially rural areas, or areas where the hygenic quality of food and water supply is likely to be poor , or areas where Hepatitis A is widespread. Those living for prolonged periods in developing countires may require a booster.

Hepatitis B*

Hepatitis B is also a viral disease affecting the liver. Usually more serious than Hepatitis A, its symptoms include gradual development of fever, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, joint pain, rash and frequently progresses to jaundice. Its severity also varies, but a greater percentage of cases will involve destruction of the liver cells resulting in liver failure and death. Unlike Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infected blood and other body fluids. Any traveller who will be staying in an area with widespread Hepatitis B for longer than 6 months , or who is doing medical work, or who is likely to have contact with blood or sexual contact with residents of such areas, should be immunized with Hepatitis B vaccine.

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquito bite. It causes an acute inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and the membranes surrounding them which can result in high fever, headache, disorientation, tremors, convulsions occasionally and coma. This disease occurs throughout most of East Asia from India east to Korea and Japan during the late summer and early fall. It also occurs sporadically throughout the year in tropical areas of Southeast Asia including Thailand. Vaccination is recommended for travel to any area prone to JE for more than 4 weeks.

Measles*

Measles is an acute highly infectious disease caused by a virus. A fever usually develops before the symptoms which include inflammation of the tissue around the eyes, inflammation of the nasal tissues with severe runny nose, cough and red blotchy rash on the skin. Two doses of measles vaccine are recommended for all unimmunized travellers who were born after 1970 and who are en route to a measles endemic area, unless there is serologic proof of immunity or physician documentation of prior measles.