Traveling and Health

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Immunizations and medicines

 

Check with your doctor to see what kind of shots you should get. Most state health clinics can give you travel shots, some medicines, and healthy travel tips.

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for most people traveling to developing countries. Hepatitis A (or Hep A) is one of the most common diseases found in returning travelers. You can easily prevent hepatitis A by getting the vaccine.

Make sure that all routine shots are up to date for you and your children. These shots can protect you from diseases such as polio, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, and rubella, which are still a problem in some developing countries.

If your doctor has told you that you should have the pneumococcal vaccine (to prevent complications of pneumonia) or a flu shot because of your age or a health condition, it is important that you have those shots before you leave.

The yellow fever vaccine is now required for travelers who plan to visit countries in South America and Africa where the disease is active.

You may need other shots, depending on where you are going, how long you will be there, and what you plan to do while you are there.

If you plan to visit an area where malaria is a risk, ask your doctor to give you a prescription for medicine to prevent malaria.