TRAVEL VACCINATIONS
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This post is about what vaccinations you may need before you travel
When you plan your solo trip it’s vitally important you research and get the travel vaccinations you may need when travelling to your chosen destination.
Depending on which country you are going to you may be required to get some injections before you can enter the country.
There are many different vaccines from Yellow Fever vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine or Hepatitis B vaccine.
As soon as you know your travel dates make an appointment with the nurse at your doctor’s surgery who should be able to advise you of any you may need.
If you're ready to plan your solo trip but are unsure how to do it, read my how to plan a solo trip article or read this article if you want my top tips of how to save for an upcoming trip.
If you want to see my favourite travel resources that I use whenever I plan a solo trip to help me save money and get the most from my solo travels you can find them here.
Planning your trip? Use my favourite resources!
🏨 Accommodation : I recommend Booking.com
✈️ Flights : for the cheapest flights, I use Skyscanner
🚗 Rental Car : I recommend Rental Cars
🛡️ Travel Insurance : for the best deals I rely on HeyMondo
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Travel Vaccinations
The specific travel vaccinations you may need for different countries depend on various factors including your destination, the duration of your stay, your planned activities, your medical history and any current health risks in the region. It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional or a travel medicine specialist for personalised advice tailored to your individual needs.
Some vaccinations are standard such as tetanus and only need one jab, but others, such as Hepatitis A, need additional boosters for maximum coverage.
Due to this it’s important that as soon as you know your travel date you make an appointment. I’ve was caught out when I travelled to China and Hong Kong and I had to get my Hep A booster whilst I was in Hong Kong and let me tell you - it wasn’t an easy process and it wasn’t cheap!
Most injections are free for UK citizens except Yellow Fever and Rabies. If you can’t get a doctor’s appointment in time, Nomads Travel Clinic are in some UK cities and offer a same day travel vaccination service for last minute travellers.
Different types of travel vaccines
Disclaimer : Before I continue I have to state the obvious - I am not a medical practitioner and you shouldn’t take my word for any of this. Consult your own doctor and/or nurse beofre you travel. I am simply a women who loves to travel, has had some travel vaccines in her life and writes stuff on the internet!
That being said let’s take a look at some of the common travel vaccinations recommended for certain regions:
Yellow Fever Vaccination:
Required if you visit certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America where yellow fever is endemic.
Some countries may require proof of vaccination upon entry
You should protect yourself from the disease by wearing insect repellent and wearing long sleeved tops and long pants.
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccinations:
Recommended if you visit regions with poor sanitation and hygiene standards, including parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended if you are travelling long term or staying in rural areas.
Get more info from the NHS guidance on Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
Typhoid Fever Vaccination:
Recommended if you plan on visiting regions with poor sanitation and food hygiene, such as parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
It is available as an injectable vaccine or oral vaccine (capsules).
Get more info from the NHS guidance on Typhoid Fever
Routine Vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis):
It’s important to make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccinations, as these are important regardless of your travel destination.
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccinations are all routine vaccinations.
Malaria Prophylaxis:
In regions where malaria is prevalent, such as parts of Africa, Asia, parts of the Middle East, Dominican Republic and Haiti and South America, you may need to take antimalarial medications to prevent infection.
Malaria is caused by being bitten by an infected mosquito. It can take just 1 bite to get it.
Malaria is not found in the UK and you cannot catch it from another person.
Antimalarial drugs are prescribed based on the specific destination, drug resistance patterns, and individual health factors.
Some malaria tablets need to be taken at least one or two weeks before you arrive in a country and are prescription only, so make an appointment to see a nurse at least six weeks before you go.
Be careful mixing alcohol with any malaria tablets and always check the side effects first.
No malaria tablet is 100% effective, so make sure you stick to wearing light colours and using mosquito repellent with Deet.
Get more info from the NHS guidance on Malaria
Rabies Vaccination:
This is recommended if you are visiting regions where rabies is prevalent, particularly in rural areas with limited access to medical care or if you plan to engage in outdoor activities.
Rabies is a rare but serious infection that's usually caught from a bite or scratch of an infected animal. It's almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but vaccination and early treatment can prevent it.
The vaccine is recommended if you are going to be taking part in activities that may bring them into close contact with animals.
Get more info from the NHS guidance on Rabies
Cholera Vaccination:
Recommended for anyone visiting regions where cholera is endemic such as parts of Africa and Asia or during outbreaks.
You can catch cholera from drinking unclean water, eating food (particularly shellfish) that's been in unclean water and eating food that's been handled by an infected person
The vaccine may be recommended in specific circumstances, but it's essential to follow hygiene and safe food practices to reduce the risk of infection.
Get more info from the NHS guidance on Cholera
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination:
Recommended if you are visiting rural areas in parts of Asia, particularly during the transmission season. I did some travelling through more rural parts of Vietnam (off the beaten path areas) and I got the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine as it was recommended to me.
The risk varies by destination, duration of stay, and activities planned. The vaccine is often recommended if you travelling long term or those spending significant time outdoors in affected areas.
Remember, this list is by no means exhaustive and vaccination requirements and recommendations may change over time. It's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider or travel medicine specialist well in advance of your trip to ensure you receive the appropriate vaccinations and travel health advice.
Other Tablets
Make sure before you travel you think about any other tablets you regularly take.
If you take the contraceptive pill and will be continuing to take it whilst you’re away make sure you account for that. Most doctors only write prescriptions for six months so if you need longer, make sure you let them know how long you’re likely to be away for.
If you need tablets for a medical condition it’s a good idea to get a doctor’s note and carry it with you to prevent being interrogated upon entering a country. Some countries are really strict about what medicines you can bring in to the country so if you have a doctor’s note it will, hopefully, stop any delays at the border.
Some tablets and medications are actually banned in certain countries so do your research before you go if you need to take anything out of the ordinary.
Useful Websites
Fit for Travel – Malaria maps for each country.
Net Doctor – Travel vaccinations for each country.
Nomad Travel Health Clinics – Travel health vaccination services.
Vaccines. Gov – Vaccinations for U.S. citizens.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Planning a trip? Here are some of the resources and tools I personally use to organise my travel plans to anywhere in world.
FLIGHTS : Find the best deals on flights using Skyscanner.
VISAS : Use iVisa to check if you need a tourist visa for wherever you’re going to and apply for an expedited visa online. Use OneWayFly to obtain proof of onward travel/hotel reservation for your visa application if needed.
TRAVEL INSURANCE : Insure your trip with my preferred insurance for single trip and annual cover HeyMondo
AIRPORT TRANSFER : Pre-book your hotel transfers from the airport.
ACCOMMODATION : Find the best hotel deals on Booking.com.
DAY TRIPS : Find the best city tours and day excursions on your travels on Viator or Get Your Guide.
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