If you’re travelling domestically within Australia or New Zealand, its unlikely you would need any more than up to date childhood vaccinations; the same applies for the United Kingdom or the United States of America. But in other parts of the world, especially developing countries, vaccinations against other diseases are required.
The Better Health website recommends all travellers to every destination be vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chicken pox), measles, mumps, rubella and polio. These are covered in your childhood vaccination series, but check with your GP to make sure that yours are up to date – in some cases you might need a booster shot before you go. The Travel Doctor also recommends that you consider an Influenza vaccine.
The Travel Doctor also recommends that all travelers to developing parts of the world should have protection against hepatitis-A. Others may need typhoid, rabies & hepatitis-B. Travelers over 65 years, & those with chronic medical problems, are generally recommended to have a Pneumonia vaccine before any overseas trip. Travelers who visit high risk areas may be recommended vaccines such as, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, tick borne encephalitis or rarely cholera.
To find out what’s required for the part of the world you’re planning to travel to, visit the World Health Organisation’s interactive map for Yellow Fever and Malaria. WHO also has information on the spread of other infectious diseases such as swine flu, dengue fever and tuberculosis on their Fact sheets Of course, check with your GP once you’ve read this information as well.
Its best to get vaccinated at least 6-8 weeks before you travel. If you’re travelling at short notice and you haven’t organized your vaccinations yet, talk to your GP about what they recommend.
Not all traveler’s diseases (for example malaria) can be prevented by vaccines, and many travelers diseases are caused by unsafe food and water. General information on ways to limit your risk of other diseases can be found on the NetDoctor or the WHO websites.
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