When traveling for business, you may be more worried about your immunity against a failed merger than you are a disease; getting all your last minute preparations set, shots may fall by the wayside, replaced by the desire to get a shot at landing a big client. However, whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, vaccinations are important, particularly regarding international travel.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) places travel vaccinations in three categories: those that are routine, those that are recommended, and those that are required. Using the CDC guidelines as guidelines of your own is one of the best ways to make sure you stay healthy and well while away from home.
Routine Vaccinations
According the CDC, vaccinations for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza type b, and Pneumococcal Invasive Disease are given out in the US on a routine basis. While many of these are administered during infancy or childhood, you may either be behind on your vaccinations or too old for the vaccination to have existed during your youth. If you fall into either type of category, international travel is good time to make sure all vaccinations are up to date, and to receive any that are not.
Recommended Vaccinations
The vaccinations recommended by the CDC depend on a variety of factors, especially your travel destination. For example, when traveling to Western Europe, it is recommended that you receive both the Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations, whereas when traveling to the South Pacific the vaccination list is much broader. For South Pacific travel, it is recommended that you receive vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Typhoid, medications for Malaria, and – if you will have a great amount of outdoor exposure in rural areas – Rabies. The CDC website contains a map of world regions with each region listing their recommended vaccinations.
Your travel destination is only one factor that determines the recommended vaccinations. Your age, health status, whether you have any conditions that suppress your immune system, the month you are traveling, whether you are pregnant or breast feeding, and the activities you will be participating in also play a vital role. Ultimately, you and your health care professional should decide what recommended vaccinations you receive and which ones you do without.
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