It's important to make sure you distinguish between compulsory and recommended vaccines. While some vaccines are compulsory if you want to enter certain countries (for instance, yellow fever vaccine for parts of Africa and South America, and the meningitis vaccine for Saudi Arabia at time of the Hajj pilgrimage), others such as hepatitis A are simply highly recommended for your own protection.
It's best to see your doctor six to eight weeks before you intend to leave, but don't panic if you've left it too late: many vaccines are still available in less time.
Immunisation will depend on several factors, including your medical history, age and medical condition; your destination, itinerary and likely type of accommodation; the season in which you're travelling; the length of your stay; and the type of travel you are undertaking — for instance, whether you will be backpacking or staying in five-star hotels, although diseases like hepatitis A don't discriminate.
All travellers, no matter where you're going, should be up to date with the standard Australian vaccination schedule: tetanus, diphtheria, measles and polio. Make sure your childhood vaccinations are now current: in general that means whether you have been immunised at all or had a booster in the last 10 years. Young adult travellers should be up to date with hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations.
All travellers should consider influenza vaccine. Travellers to high-risk areas may be recommended vaccines to protect against diseases such as meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis or, for those going to work in places of humanitarian crises, cholera.
Talk to your doctor or the travel clinic about which vaccines you should have and whether you fall into the category of those who should not be vaccinated. But remember, protection also comes from watching what you eat and drink and maintaining good hygiene at all times. If travelling to known areas affected by disease, carry re-hydration salts in case of severe diarrhoea.
All material is © Media 21 Publishing, and originally appeared in the June 2007 issue of Good Health & Medicine magazine.
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