Travel vaccinations are important for your health and safety every time you travel out of the country. It is always essential to know about the specific jabs you need based on your travel destination, and this is information you can quickly obtain from your travel health clinic. But before going for the jabs, there are a few factors worth considering, some of which may require the indulgence and professional advice of your doctor. Here are some of the factors worth considering when going for travel vaccinations:
Your immune system
Vaccines are generally weakened versions of the disease for which we need our bodies to form a resistance against. When the vaccine is introduced into the body, the body’s immune system will produce the necessary antibodies required to destroy that disease in the event of an actual attack. When you have a disease or a condition that might weaken your immune system such as recovery after surgery, you should talk with your doctor before getting some of the travel vaccinations.
The case of pregnant women and children
Pregnant women and children may need certain special vaccinations depending on their travel destinations. This is because they are at risk of certain infections that would normally not bother the ordinary traveler. For instance, the Zika virus is a real threat to pregnant women traveling to South America, Asia, and Africa, of which vaccination will be highly recommended.
Your personal vaccine history
It is not always that you must get travel vaccines every time you travel. Some vaccines need to be administered just once for you to have lifelong protection. You should, therefore, have a look at your personal vaccine history to avoid jabs that are still active in your body. Those vaccines may still be active in your body, hence no need to double up.