Healthy Travels: Vaccinations
October 14th 2007 08:28
For most of us, vaccinations are last things we think of in our daily lives, even during the flu outbreak a couple of months ago in Australia, if my employer didn't offer to vaccinate us for free, I wouldn't have bothered visiting a doctor to get that needle. Why should I care so much when I am young and healthy and fit?
Well, when it comes to travelling, whether you are normally healthy or do have health concerns, everyone should be checking their vaccination requirements before you depart.
Dr. Deborah Mills, author of Travelling Well suggest that:
* Most travellers should seek medical advice 8 weeks before departure
* For those going to live or work overseas, you should seek advice 6 months prior to departure
* For those leaving at short notice, it is never too late to seek advice
It's true. Especially if you are visiting countries affected by various diseases in this world. Seek advice. You simply do not want to risk bringing back unwanted souvenirs.
The best place to start is to check with the Travel Doctors. You can use the website to check the recommendations for your destination, for some places, it's compulsory to be vaccinated by law. Entering Bolivia from Peru for example, they check if you are vaccinated against Yellow Fever, without that certification, you can be denied entry. Vaccination for Typhoid and Hepatitis A & B are simply for your own safety, as you never know when you will gulp down that dodgy food and water.
Of course, there are things that cannot be vaccinated against - Salmonella for example, and AIDS to speak of the worst. You simply need to make sure you avoid foods that will cause Salmonella and if you do come into the situation, to have protected sex. Remember nothing is 100% safe so common sense apply when travelling.
A little bit of preparation will save you from disaster happening that may ruin your holiday. Travel insurance can only help you with the finances, but it cannot protect you from spending a couple of your holiday days confined to a bed. It's a little investment into happy travels.
Well, when it comes to travelling, whether you are normally healthy or do have health concerns, everyone should be checking their vaccination requirements before you depart.
Dr. Deborah Mills, author of Travelling Well suggest that:
* Most travellers should seek medical advice 8 weeks before departure
* For those going to live or work overseas, you should seek advice 6 months prior to departure
* For those leaving at short notice, it is never too late to seek advice
It's true. Especially if you are visiting countries affected by various diseases in this world. Seek advice. You simply do not want to risk bringing back unwanted souvenirs.
The best place to start is to check with the Travel Doctors. You can use the website to check the recommendations for your destination, for some places, it's compulsory to be vaccinated by law. Entering Bolivia from Peru for example, they check if you are vaccinated against Yellow Fever, without that certification, you can be denied entry. Vaccination for Typhoid and Hepatitis A & B are simply for your own safety, as you never know when you will gulp down that dodgy food and water.
Of course, there are things that cannot be vaccinated against - Salmonella for example, and AIDS to speak of the worst. You simply need to make sure you avoid foods that will cause Salmonella and if you do come into the situation, to have protected sex. Remember nothing is 100% safe so common sense apply when travelling.
A little bit of preparation will save you from disaster happening that may ruin your holiday. Travel insurance can only help you with the finances, but it cannot protect you from spending a couple of your holiday days confined to a bed. It's a little investment into happy travels.
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