Categories: HEALTH

Before traveling for the holidays, review your vaccination plan

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone traveling get the latest recommended routine vaccinations.Image provided by CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a statement to anyone planning holiday travel.

Officials say it’s important to stay up to date on recommended routine vaccines before traveling, including for influenza, RSV and COVID-19.

What is a “routine vaccine”?

Routine vaccines are the ones recommended for everyone in the United States, depending on age and vaccine history. Most people think of these vaccines as childhood vaccines given before going to school, but there are routine vaccines for teens and adults as well.

Why are routine vaccines important for travelers?

Because most American children receive routine vaccines, many vaccine-preventable diseases, such as dietary, mumps, or chickenpox, are uncommon in the United States. If you are not vaccinated, international travel increases your chances of contracting and spreading diseases that are not common in the United States. There are still outbreaks of food and other vaccine-preventable diseases in popular destinations, including Europe.

Make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccinations. Routine vaccinations can protect you from infectious diseases, such as food, that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccinations are uncommon in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Check the CDC’s destinations page — https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list — for travel health information. Check your destination’s CDC page to learn what vaccines or medications you may need and what diseases or health risks are present in your destination.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or travel health professional at least one month before departure. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medications and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider can allow them to provide more specific advice and recommendations.

What routine vaccines do I need?

The routine vaccines you need before traveling may depend on your age, health and vaccine history. You may need a booster or booster dose before traveling.

Routine travel-related vaccinations may include the following:

Coronavirus disease

Chickenpox (chickenpox)

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

influenza

Measles, mumps, rubella

meningococci

pneumococcal

polio

rotavirus