What are the most common vaccinations when you you are backpacking, living, studying, traveling or working abroad?

The most common vaccinations

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When to get vaccinations for yellow fever when you go abroad?

Yellow fever is a potentially fatal disease carried by certain mosquitoes in parts of South America and Africa. If traveling to these areas you should check with your travel clinic or doctor whether a vaccine is required. Yellow fever vaccine is only available from approved medical practitioners and must be given at least 10 days before traveling to infected areas.
Yellow fever is contagious and can be spread by infected travelers, so if you are traveling to a country where yellow fever is a risk, you may need a certificate showing proof of yellow fever vaccination. Without this certificate you may be refused entry to some countries, or required to be vaccinated upon arrival.
If you have stayed overnight or longer in a declared yellow fever infected country in Africa or South America, within six days prior to your arrival, you will require a valid international yellow fever vaccination certificate.
The World Health Organization closely monitors reports of yellow fever infection and periodically publishes a list of countries where the disease occurs.

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When to get vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and polio when you go abroad?

Vaccination and validity: always recommended for far away destinations and Eastern Europe (also in East Europe)
Last minute travelers (=two weeks before departure) who have not received a standard vaccination before: 2 weeks before leaving there are 2 possible injections left. They protect you for a maximum period of 8 months.
Last minute travelers who are not going to diphteria endemic areas: If the trip is shorter than two months it is not necessary to get a DTP vaccination, except for persons who have never received the vaccination before. If your trip is shorter than 8 months only persons who have received just one DTP vaccination need an extra one.
Background information: Diphtheria is a common disease in certain countries. This bacteria can cause a seriously swollen throat that makes it more difficult to breathe. If this bacteria gets into the blood it can infect the heart and can lead to death. The bacteria can also cause serious skininfections, although this form of dipthteria is less serious. It is highly recommended get a vaccination against this disease.
Tetanus is found everywhere around the world. You can get this disease through street dirt, soil, manure or dust getting in a wound. When this happens the poison substances can cause the muscles all over your body to cramp. It can even cause breathing problems leading to death. A vaccination again tetanus every 10 years is recommended.
The polio virus is highly contagious. It is passed on through faeces, contaminated food or drinking water. Polio is very common in places of less hygienic places, such as certain areas in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Contamination with the polio virus can cause permanent paralysis of the muscles. If it has been more than ten years since you have had your last vaccination against polio you need another vaccination before you leave.

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When to get vaccinations for hepatitis A when you go abroad?

Vaccination and validity: Recommended when traveling to almost every far away destination. The gamma globulin injection is only effective for a few months and works passively. Nowadays you can also get a vaccination called Epaxal. It works actively for a minimum of 10 years and maybe longer. You can also get a vaccination of Hepatitis A+B (Twinrix) all at once.
Background information: Hepatitis is a liver infection caused by bad hygiene or transmitted by infected water or food. It does not only exist in the tropics, but also in Turkey and East Europe.

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When to get vaccinations for stomach typhus when you go abroad?

Vaccination and validity: Often recommended for Asia and Latin America. There is a medicine that you can swallow and an injection.
Background information: It is a life threatening disease of the gastro-enteric channel. This disease is caused by the Salmonella typhus bacteria. This is an infection related to bad hygienes. If you have had your vaccination, it will only protect you for about 70-90%. Therefore, you still need to be careful with what you take in.

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When to get vaccinations for hepatitis B when you go abroad?

Vaccination and Validity: a form of jaundice. Only high risk groups, (such as doctors, certain expats, and people who have intercourse with different partners) and travelers who are traveling longer than three months in an hepatitis B area need to get this vaccination. It is also possible to get the vaccination for Hepatitis A+B at once.
Last minute: It is possible to get an accelerated injection, although this does not give similar protection.
Background information: Hepatitis B is caused by a virus spread through blood to blood or through sexual contact. For example non sterile applied piercings, tattoos etc.

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When to get vaccinations for Japanese encephalitis when you go abroad?

Vaccination and validity: Recommended for people who are going to the countryside in the area between India and Japan.
Background Information: Japanese encephalitis is a virus infection that is spread by by mosquitoes. People who are staying on the the countryside for a longer period during the season when the disease is spread run a higher risk.

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When to get vaccinations for tuberculoses (TBC) when you go abroad?

Vaccination and validity: sometimes recommended to people traveling for a long time to areas where TBC can reign.
Details: The procedure is very complicated. Therefore, consult your personal doctor.

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