A Closer Look at Travel Vaccines and Why You Might Need Them
Planning an international trip with friends, family, or for work purposes? Take a closer look at travel vaccines and learn why you might need them to protect your health.
Travelling is an exciting and enriching experience that allows us to explore new cultures, try new foods, and create lasting memories. However, it is important to be aware of the potential health risks that may be present in the places we visit. One way to protect ourselves while travelling is by getting travel vaccines.
Keep reading to learn more.
A Closer Look at Travel Vaccines and Why You Might Need Them
Travel vaccines are vaccines that are recommended or required for travel to certain countries or regions. These vaccines help protect against diseases that are more common in certain parts of the world, or that may pose a higher risk for travellers. Some of the most common travel vaccines include those for hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, and yellow fever.
Wellness Pharmacy is also able to offer vaccines for other diseases and conditions that may be present in certain parts of the world. These vaccines include cholera, traveller’s diarrhea, malaria prophylaxis, and meningitis.
It is important to consult with one of our specially trained pharmacists to determine which vaccines are recommended or required for your specific trip. By getting the appropriate vaccines, you can help protect yourself against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases while away from home.
Why are Travel Vaccines Important?
There are several reasons why it is important to consider getting travel vaccines before embarking on a trip:
- To protect your own health: Travel vaccines help protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases that you may be at risk of contracting while travelling. For example, getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B can help protect against infection, which can be especially serious for people with compromised immune systems.
- To protect the health of others: Travel vaccines can also help prevent the spread of diseases to other parts of the world. For example, getting vaccinated against yellow fever can help prevent the spread of the disease to areas where it is not present.
- To comply with entry requirements: Some countries require travellers to show proof of vaccination before they are allowed to enter. For example, yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers to certain countries.
Where Can I Get Travel Vaccines?
Wellness Pharmacy is a great resource for travel vaccines. Our specially trained pharmacists are knowledgeable about the vaccines that are recommended or required for travel to different parts of the world. They can provide information on which vaccines are needed for your specific trip, as well as administer the vaccines in our various locations.
It is important to plan ahead when it comes to getting travel vaccines, as some vaccines may require multiple doses over a period of time in order to be effective. It is generally recommended to start the vaccination process at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to give your body time to build immunity, however this timeframe may be different depending on where you are travelling to and which vaccines you’ll need.
What Other Precautions Should I Take While Travelling?
In addition to getting travel vaccines, there are other precautions you can take to protect your health while travelling:
- Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.
- Avoid contact with stray animals: Do not touch or feed animals, including stray cats and dogs.
- Be aware of food and water safety: Only eat food that is cooked and served hot, and avoid drinking tap water in areas where the water may not be safe to drink.
- Use insect repellent: Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit diseases such as malaria and Zika virus. Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from insect bites.
- Get travel insurance: Consider getting travel insurance to protect against unexpected health issues that may arise while travelling.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, travel vaccines are an important part of staying healthy while travelling. Wellness Pharmacy’s specially trained pharmacists can provide information on which vaccines are needed for your specific trip and administer the vaccines in our various locations.
In addition to getting travel vaccines, it is important to practice good hygiene, avoid contact with stray animals, be aware of food and water safety, use insect repellent, and consider getting travel insurance. By taking these precautions, you can help protect your own health and the health of others while enjoying your travels.
Find more information about travel vaccines here.