Travelling to different parts of the world can be an exciting experience but it’s vital that during these exhilarating journeys, that you prioritise your health and safety. This is where travel vaccinations come into play. In this blog post, we’ll take a further look at how travel vaccinations work and what vaccines you should consider getting before going away and enjoying your adventures.

How does a vaccine work?

Vaccinations contain a weak or inactive form of a pathogen which is a bacterium or virus that causes a certain infection or disease. When injected into the body, the immune system will begin to produce antibodies to fight off the bacterium or virus. These antibodies remain in the body, so that when the same disease or infection enters your immune system, your body can easily protect itself.

Why are travel vaccines important?

Protecting yourself on a daily basis is important, but so is protecting your health whilst travelling abroad. These vaccines protect you from diseases that you might not encounter in your home country. By preventing the spread of these diseases, you are protecting yourself from becoming seriously ill whilst abroad and also preventing these serious illnesses spreading to others. This prevents outbreaks not only amongst communities abroad, but back home too.

Common travel vaccines

Here are some of the most common travel vaccinations:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infection that affects the liver. It can be contracted in various areas of the world including; South America, the Middle East, parts of South Asia and parts of Africa too. It is usually caused due to poor sanitation or food hygiene and can be contracted through drinking contaminated water, being in contact with someone who has Hepatitis A or eating foods that have been stored or been in contact with contaminated water.

Typhoid

Typhoid is a highly infectious fever that is often spread through contaminated water, or foods that have been prepared or stored with contaminated water (e.g ice and seafood). You may need a typhoid vaccination if you are visiting areas of the world including; parts of Africa, South & East Asia and South America.

Malaria

Malaria is one of the most common travel vaccines that may be administered if you are travelling to areas of the world such as; the Middle East, high risk areas of Africa & Asia and South America. When injected, it prevents malaria and kills off any malaria parasite in the body before they develop into serious symptoms.

Travel vaccine consultations

At The Medical Hub, we recommend booking a travel vaccine consultation around 6-8 weeks before you are expected to travel. Some vaccinations require more than one dosage which may need to be administered a few weeks apart or the vaccination itself may not be fully effective until a certain period of time has passed. If you are travelling last minute, a healthcare professional can advise you on what vaccine and dosage may be best for your timeframe during a travel vaccine consultation.