Certain standard vaccines are given early on in life, as young as infants are vaccinated, and further immunisations are continued until children reach a certain age. However, you may need other additional vaccines if you plan to travel outside the country. These types of vaccines can conveniently be administered by a trusted travel clinic in Richmond.
Routine Vaccination vs. Travel Vaccination
Routine vaccines are the type of vaccines recommended for everyone in the UK. Common routine vaccines may include Whooping cough, Polio, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Measles, Mumps and Rubella. However, not only children are urged to get vaccinated, but even adults and elderly individuals are also recommended to receive vaccines and boosters regularly for illnesses like influenza.
Although routine vaccines protect you against various diseases, they do not encompass infectious diseases and viruses commonly found in foreign destinations. This is where travel vaccinations become necessary to keep you protected during your travel through additional immunisation and staying up to date with your routine vaccination.
Common Travel Vaccines
Among the recommended travel vaccines are
- Hepatitis A. It is a disease which attacks the liver and is contracted through contaminated water or food.
- Typhoid fever. It is a fatal infection caused by a bacterium known as Salmonella Typhi. It can be passed on through contaminated water or food, especially in areas with poor sanitation.
- Japanese encephalitis. It is a severe viral infection that can affect your central nervous system and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. This disease is predominantly found in many rural areas.
- Yellow fever. It is also a viral infection caused by mosquito bites.
- Rabies. It is another life-threatening, viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals. It is caught from a bite or scratch of a rabid animal.
These vaccines will be administered according to your destination and the duration of your stay there.
Travel Vaccination Schedule
It is advised to visit a travel clinic in Richmond six to eight weeks before your departure. This is because certain vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks. In addition, vaccines are given in advance to enable your body to build ample immunity towards viruses. Once immunity is developed, certain vaccines will keep you safe for several years, while others provide lifetime protection.
If visiting tropical and rural destinations is part of your itinerary, be sure to book an appointment with us a visit to learn more about your travel vaccination essentials.