At last the time has come for the long-awaited trip outside the country. The plans started a long time ago: plane tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, sightseeing plans. Bags are being pulled out of the attic to be packed, and the excitement grows with each passing day. Everything is ready.

But wait, what about vaccines?

Is this one more preparation to add to your “to do” list? Traveling outside the country can seem like an adventure to another planet. Images of exotic destinations along with new and curious foods dance on the pages of travel brochures. Anticipating the unexpected can be a challenge for even the most seasoned traveler. However, traveling with children adds an additional dimension to anxiety – the idea of ​​your child getting sick in a foreign country is extremely terrifying. Your doctor recommends a variety of vaccines for you. They are needed? How do you assess the risks?

Hepatitis B it is a viral infection that is transmitted by contact with blood. In the US, Hepatitis B is found primarily in adults and is spread through intimate contact or by sharing needles used with illicit drugs. Hepatitis B is most common in the general population in East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Still, the risk of long-term complications is much lower than we are generally led to believe. More than 95 percent of people who get hepatitis B make a full recovery, and an infection will result in lifelong immunity for that person. Unless you plan to spend prolonged periods in close contact with infected people, the risks of contracting hepatitis B while traveling are extremely small.

Polio it is an infectious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The disease is seen mainly in children under the age of five; Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, and pain in extremities. Paralysis results in approximately 1 to 2 percent of children who contract the viral infection, although the vast majority make a full recovery from this paralysis. Some, however, go on to have a permanent disability for life.
Polio is almost eradicated. Once common throughout the underdeveloped world, as of February 2006, only four countries still report isolated outbreaks: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Also, there have been no cases of wild polio in the Western Hemisphere since 1991.

Polio vaccination of children continues in the US, with 5 doses administered before entering school, (1) reasoning that until polio is completely eradicated, the risk of reintroducing polio in this country it is “just a plane ride”. However, an examination of the data reveals only six cases of imported polio documented between 1980 and 1998, the last in New York City in 1993. (2) The risk of contracting polio at home is negligible; the risks abroad are almost the same.

Tetanus is an acute spastic paralytic disease caused by a toxin released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The bacteria are found in soil and animal feces throughout the world. Neonatal tetanus is the deadliest and the most common type of tetanus found in textbooks. However, the vast majority of these cases occur after delivery and the use of non-sterile equipment to cut the umbilical cord. While other forms of tetanus are a serious illness, recovery is the norm. In other words, tetanus is not a uniformly fatal disease. If you are traveling to remote areas, such as backpacking in areas without medical care and without clean water, you may want to carefully consider your tetanus status.

However, a word of caution: a tetanus shot does not guarantee protection. In a study published by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in 1997, 13% of people who contracted tetanus received four or more tetanus shots. (3) Your best protection against tetanus is to thoroughly clean the wound with copious amounts of warm, soapy water and to allow the wound to bleed profusely for a few minutes. Apply hydrogen peroxide to clean your wound, followed by a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.

WHAT ABOUT EXOTIC DISEASES?
When traveling abroad, it is possible to encounter some illnesses that are not generally seen in the US The Centers for Disease Control lists the following infections as potential concerns for anyone traveling to any destination in the world:

Typhoid fever, an acute febrile illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, is characterized by fever, headache, and an enlarged spleen. The greatest risk is for travelers to the Indian subcontinent and developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, who will have prolonged exposure to potentially non-refrigerated food.

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can range in severity from a flu-like syndrome to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever. The disease occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa and in rural and tropical South America.

Japanese encephalitis, another mosquito-borne viral infection, is found throughout Asia, particularly in rural or agricultural areas of temperate regions of China, Japan, Korea, and eastern Russia. The risk for short-term travelers to cities is very low.
For all of these possible infections, it is important to get a natural mosquito repellent, one that is free of DEET, the toxic additive found in most insect repellants. , manufactured by Royal Neem. It is chemical free and contains many natural ingredients.

Hepatitis A it is a viral illness that begins with fever and diarrhea, followed within a few days by jaundice (which turns yellow). The severity of the disease ranges from no symptoms to a mild illness lasting one to two weeks. Although endemic throughout the world, hepatitis A can be prevented by carefully following hygiene and following some dietary recommendations:

1. Eat only foods that are cooked that are hot to the touch. Avoid eating food from street vendors.
2. Avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them yourself.
3. Drink only “safe” beverages: sealed bottled water, hot tea, coffee, beer, wine, and boiled water; Avoid drinking beverages with ice.
5. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood (risk of hepatitis).
6. Avoid all tap water and be careful not to let the shower water get into your mouth. When dining at restaurants, ask if salad greens were washed in boiled, distilled, or bottled water.
7. Avoid milk and dairy products with unknown refrigeration standards.

WHAT IS RECOMMENDED? IT REQUIRED?

Although the CDC recommends that all travelers obtain vaccinations when traveling abroad, it is important to realize that, with one exception, no vaccinations are required before traveling anywhere in the world – they are only “recommended.” You will not be required to have a vaccination record to enter a country, nor will you be required to obtain vaccinations to return home. The only exception is the yellow fever vaccine., which may be necessary if you are traveling to or from a South American or African country infected with yellow fever. Recommendations may vary from country to country; If that destination is part of your travel plans, you should look up the yellow fever requirements for that specific country. (4)

I have been a globetrotter for most of my adult life. In the last 25 years, I have been fortunate to have traveled to more than 40 countries. I have never been asked for a vaccination record, nor have I ever felt the need for vaccinations, even when traveling to remote and exotic destinations.

Final advice? Remember to pack your passport, sunglasses, and favorite book. Have fun and don’t risk getting sick before skipping multiple shots.
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