{"id":5065,"date":"2019-07-22T09:08:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T13:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5065"},"modified":"2021-06-25T15:06:56","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T19:06:56","slug":"travel-vaccines-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/travel-vaccines-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"What vaccines you need before traveling overseas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your passport is ready, and your bags are packed for your overseas vacation. But there\u2019s one thing you may have overlooked: travel vaccinations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Traveling abroad can be an exciting experience, but it can also expose you to diseases you wouldn\u2019t normally encounter at home. That means that aside from putting a damper on your vacation, you could wind up with a serious health issue. Getting vaccinated before travel reduces your risk of infectious diseases and lets you concentrate on the important stuff, like having a great time. Here\u2019s what you need to know about prepping before you go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get your travel vaccinations\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first thing you\u2019ll want to do is schedule a visit with your healthcare provider. You\u2019ll need to share where you\u2019re traveling to (and even the season you\u2019re traveling in), the type of activities you\u2019ll be doing, the accommodation you\u2019re staying in, your age, medical history, whether you\u2019re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and what vaccines you\u2019ve had in the past. All these factors play a role in determining what vaccines you should get before heading out. Even if you\u2019ve been vaccinated for certain diseases in the past, you may require a booster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s best to schedule this visit at least six weeks before travel. Some vaccines need time to allow your body to develop immunity, while others require several doses spread out over weeks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your physician may be able to administer the vaccines right at the office. However, it\u2019s more likely that you\u2019ll be referred to a travel clinic. Save yourself an unnecessary trip by calling ahead to make sure the vaccines you need are available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While you\u2019re at the doctor\u2019s office, it\u2019s also a good idea to get a copy of any prescriptions (complete with dosage and directions) you take regularly; you\u2019ll want this in case you get questioned about your medication, or if you need to fill the prescription somewhere else.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might want to ask for some \u201cjust in case\u201d medicine, too. For example, having antibiotics as well as OTC Imodium (loperamide) on hand comes in handy if the cleverly named <\/span>travelers\u2019 diarrhea<\/span><\/a> strikes. Depending on where you\u2019re going, drugstore items like hand sanitizer and tampons might be difficult to come by, so it\u2019s a good idea to stock up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED<\/b>:<\/strong>\u00a0What vaccines can I get discount on?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Are travel vaccinations necessary?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

So what are the most common vaccines you might get before travel? They\u2019re split into three types of vaccines: routine, recommended, and required. <\/span><\/p>\n

Routine<\/span><\/i> vaccines are the ones generally recommended in the U.S. You likely received many of these as a child, but some require immunization as an adult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re traveling somewhere with a high risk of a vaccine-preventable disease, it\u2019s<\/span> recommended<\/span><\/i> you get the vaccine. And certain countries <\/span>require<\/span><\/i> vaccines, usually against yellow fever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What vaccinations do I need for travel?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Here are the five most common vaccines recommended (or required) for travel abroad:<\/span><\/p>\n