Immunization for travelers

1. Immunization for travelers
   The risk of travelers contacting infectious disease depends on destination, duration of trip and nature and conditions of travel. Uniform recommendations are not possible because the epidemiology of diseases differs in various geographical areas. Therefore it is not possible to provide an exhaustive list of vaccines that should be advised to travelers to a particular destination. The two steps in immunizing travelers are to update routine immunization and to provide travel specific immunizations. For the second part, detailed information about the person’s itinerary, living conditions during the journey, mode of travel and purpose of travel are to be noted.

Vaccines commonly recommended for Indians traveling abroad include yellow fever vaccine for those traveling to destinations in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The other vaccine that may be required is against Tick born encephalitis for travelers to Europe. However this vaccine is not mandatory and not routinely available in India.

Vaccines to be recommended for children traveling from Western countries to India are BCG, typhoid and hepatitis A (if stay is prolonged).

Dr Marwah