There is nothing more exciting than counting down the days to an overseas trip, but there are some serious health considerations that you should be thinking about too. A recent study by Sanofi Pasteur revealed that over the last 5 years 2.8 million Australians traveling to endemic areas overseas skipped important vaccinations. In some cases those vaccinations were protection against life-threatening diseases – scary stuff!
Among those travelers surveyed 45% believed vaccinations weren’t required and 33% believed there was no risk of illness at all. Some of these travellers were visiting high risk areas such as Asia and India where Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and Typhoid are all common. In light of this news, Rescu. asked Dr Tony Gherardin, (National Medical Advisor for Travel Doctor) for all the crucial facts about staying healthy as travelers.
RESCU: There’s so much to organise when it comes to overseas travel, why should we bother with travel vaccines?
Dr Tony Gherardin: There is a lot to do before travel, but looking after one’s health is important. Vaccinations are a form of insurance, that is protecting the traveler against diseases that can be encountered at the destination. There are some diseases which are very common, cause serious illness when they occur and can be easily protected against by vaccine, such as hepatitis –A , a common food and water borne disease. There are also some rare infections which only certain travelers might get exposed to but could even be life threatening, such as meningitis or cholera. There also exists some diseases which can be brought home by a traveler and spread to friends and relatives, hepatitis, typhoid are examples. Sometimes there may even be a compulsory vaccine, such as Yellow Fever, which is required before entering many countries in Africa and South America.
RESCU: If we’ve had vaccinations in the past do we need to get them boosted every time we travel?
Dr Tony Gherardin: No, some vaccinations confer life-long immunity, and others do not need boosting for many years. So people who travel regularly need less and less vaccinations because they are usually “up-to-date”.
RESCU: Are there any possible dangers and side effects of vaccination?
Dr Tony Gherardin: Modern vaccines are very safe, and most travel vaccinations are very well tolerated. Occasional pain and discomfort at the vaccination site, or a mild temporary fever can occur in a small minority of people, just like the normal baby vaccinations. Most vaccines have no serious side-effects. Serious adverse events have been recorded with some vaccinations but are extremely rare, and the risk from the disease acquired naturally is many times higher than the risk from vaccine. Travel vaccinations are not given unless the risk of disease is significant.
RESCU: How far ahead of my trip do I need to get vaccinated? Is it possible to leave it too late?
Dr Tony Gherardin: The ideal time to start vaccination before travel is about 4- 6 weeks. This allows time to have boosters or a course of vaccine in particular disease, and to have vaccinations spread out over separate visits if necessary.
RESCU: What are the top health tips you would give a traveller in preparation for a trip?
Dr Tony Gherardin: Consider your health before travel and consult an expert in travel health risks for advice on eating and drinking safely, avoiding insects and animals, and avoiding other travel risks. Get appropriate vaccinations, and if necessary, malaria prevention. Take insect repellent, sunblock, and a travelers medical kit to treat common illness like travellers’ diarrhea. Always have travel insurance.
Dr Tony Gherardin is the National Medical Advisor for Travel Doctor.
