Vaccinations for Travellers

VIP

Vaccination Is Protection

Going on a trip?
Staying in good health while travelling can help ensure that your trip overseas will be a happy and enjoyable one. Today we're sharing with you to help you prepare for safe and healthy journey.

Planning before travel
Before departure, you should:

• Gather information on your travel destinations and possible activities.
• See a travel health doctor to obtain any necessary vaccinations or preventive medication
• Provide the following information for your healthcare provider to assess your health risks:

1. Travel destination(s) including stopovers
2. Duration and season of travel
3. Purpose of travel
4. Standard of accomodation
5. Activities planned
6. Current health status and medical history
7. Vaccination history

When should I seek pre-travel consultation?

• For general travel for work or leisure, seek medical advice 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
• For those going to live or work overseas, seek advice 6 months prior to departure.
• For those leaving at short notice, it is never too late to seek advice.

Vaccination is a highly effective method of preventing certain infections diseases.

Vaccines are generally proven to be well-tolerated

Which vaccines do I need?

ALL INDIVIDUALS

• Ensure up-to-date routine vaccination, such as DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and hepatitis B vaccination.
• Ensure immunity against Chickenpox.
• Inlfuenza vaccine is recommended for anyone above 6 months.
• Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for individuals over 65 years of age, children and those with underlying medical conditions.
• Adolescents and adults who have not received a DTP booster vaccination are recommended to have a booster dose every 10 years.

DEPENDING ON YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION

• These vaccines are recommended to protect travelers from illnesses present in other parts of the world and to prevent importation of infection of infectious diseases across international borders.
• Refer to Table 1 for the vaccines recommended for your destination.
• Find out more in the next section on VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES OF POTENTIAL RISK TO TRAVELLERS.

DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU DO

Certain vaccines are recommended depending on your activities while away.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all visitors or delegates coming from or going to/through yellow fever endemic countries listed below.

Vaccine-preventable diseases of potential risk to travelers

1. HEPATITIS A (Risk Areas : Aisa, Middle east, Central & SouthAmerica and Africa)

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatits Avirus commonly transmitted through food, water and close contact with an infected person. The hepatitis A virus infects the liver cells and causes inflammation.

The disease is often more severe in adults and full recovery may take several months.

The symptoms of liver inflammation include:

• Loss of appetite
• Dark urine
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes)
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

There is no treatment for hepatitis A. The most serious complication of hepatitis A is acute liver failure.

All non-immune travelers should be vaccinated against hepatitis A.

2. TYPHOID FEVER (Risk areas : Asia, Middle East, Central & South America and Africa)

Typoid Fever is an infecton caused by Salmonella typhi transmitted through contaminated food and water.

Early symptoms include :

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Malaise and abdominal pain 
• Constipation

As the disease progresses, patients develop:

• High Fever
• Deliriumy
• Profound tiredness

The most serious complication of typhoid fever is intestinal bleeding or perforation. A perforated intestine occurs when your intestine or bowel develops a hole, causing intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity and triggering severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloodstream infection.

Vaccination is reommended for travelers to areas where there is an increased risk of exposure to S.typhi.

3. JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS (Risk areas : Asia and parts of western pacific)

Japanese encephalitis (JE)  is a viral disease that infects animals and humans. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. Transmission is mainly related to the rainy season in Southeast Asia but may take place all year round, particularly in tropical climate zones.

In the temperate regions of China, Japan, the Korean peninsula and eastern parts of the Russian Federation, transmission occurs mainly during summer and autumn.

Most human infections are asymptomatic or result in only mild symptoms. However, a small percentage of infection of the brain (encephalitis), with symptoms including:

• Sudden onset of headache
• High fever
• Coma
• Convulsions
• Disorientation
• Tremors

There is no specific treatment for JE. Patient management focuses on supportive care and management of complications. Steps to prevent JE include vaccination and using personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Vaccination is recommended for travelers with extensive outdoor exposure (camping, hiking, working, ect;) during the transmission season.

4. MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE (Risk areas: Sub-Saharan Meningitis Belt and Mecca)

Meninococcal Disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitis transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact (e.g. coughing, kissing, sneezing). In industrialized countries, sporadic cases occur in schools, colleges, military barracks and other crowded places.

Meningococal meningitis causes inflammation affecting the brain and spinal cord. This occurs when bacteria from the respiratory tract enter the bloodstream.

Early symptoms included:

• Sudden onset of intense headache
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light
• Later symptoms of meningitis can be very severe, e.g. seizures.

Meningococcal infections can be treated with drugs. Still, many people who get the disease die from it and many others are affects for life, Preventing the disease through the use of meningococal vaccine is important for people at highest risk.

Invasive meningococal disease can kill within 24 hours. Up to 2 in 10 survivors of meningococal meningitis are left with permanent consequences such as mental retardation, deafness, epilepsy or other neurological disorders.

Vaccination is recommended for travelers to industrialized countries who are at risk of exposure to sporadic cases and travelers to the sub-Saharan meningitis belt. Pilgrims visiting Mecca for the Hajj or Umrah are required to be vaccinated.  

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There also have few other common vaccine provide to public such as :

1. Yellow Fever
2. Rabies
3. Influenza
4. Cholera

Other than Vaccination, preparing medication before your holiday also important. Farmasi Pantai Hillpark introducing our Travelling Pack to to public to ensure they get enough protection during travel.

Adult Travelling Kit

Travel Pack Kids

For more info about our Travelling Pack, visit us on media social at Facebook, Instagram or whatsapp us direct. And more information about vaccination, check out www.vaccinationisprotection.com for more info.

ATTENTION!!

If you find out that you have any of this symptom please refer your Doctor or Pharmacist as soon as possible. Stay with our Channel on Facebook , Instagram and our FB Page (I Am Healthy) for more info and current issue that we're focusing on from time to time. Don't forget to share your opinion and experience with us. Sharing is Caring!!

Prepared by : Shakila Bakar

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Health Information for International Travel 2016.
2. World Health Organization. International Travel and Health 2015. Available at http://www.who.int/ith/ITH_chapter_6.pdf. Last accessed 1 July 2016.
3. Mills D. Travelling Well by the Travel Doctor, 14th Edition. Published by Dr. Deborah Mills, November 2012.
4. Marshall GM. The Vaccine Handbook: A practical guide for clinicians, 4th edition. 2012.
5. Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Yellow Fever. Available at http://www.myhealth.gov.my/demam-kuning/. Last accessed 1 July 2016.
6. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Entry Requirements. http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=95. Last accessed 1 July 2016.