Vaccines for travelling abroad

 

Planning a trip is always exciting, but it sometimes means taking certain precautions to protect our health. Vaccines for travelling abroad are essential in some countries to prevent diseases and to be able to enjoy the trip to the fullest. Find out in advance what the vaccination requirements are in the country you are visiting, because they vary greatly from one area to another. 

 

Compulsory vaccines for travelling abroad

These are the vaccines for travelling abroadwithout which you will not be able to enter certain countries, especially countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Additionally, some destinations require an International Certificate of Vaccination to issue an entry visa.

 

Yellow fever

It is endemic in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, so it is a must if you are a tourist. You must get vaccinated if you are visiting Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo and Uganda. As well as both Guianas, Paraguay and Suriname. It is also advisable in Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Vaccination is recommended all year round, but especially before the rainy season. The vaccination process involves a single dose that must be given at least 10 days before the trip, which will ensure lifelong immunity.
 

Meningococcal meningitis

You will need to be vaccinated to enter Saudi Arabia. This country also requires a vaccination certificate, which lasts three or five years depending on the type of vaccine. It is also advisable for anyone travelling to sub-Saharan Africa that is going to visit what is called “Africa's meningitis belt”. It includes 26 countries from Senegal to Ethiopia. They are parts or all of Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea. It must be administered at least ten days before travelling, in a single dose for meningococcal ACWY vaccines and in two doses for meningococcal B vaccines.

Poliomyelitis

The polio vaccine is mandatory for travellers coming from regions where cases are still reported to certain countries that have already eradicated the disease. Currently, the endemic presence of wild poliovirus (WP1) is limited to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Other countries considered to be at risk of transmission include Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Somalia and Yemen. Some countries require the polio vaccine when travelling to areas where the disease persists, even if it is not endemic in the destination country. 

 

Recommended vaccines for travelling abroad

While the above vaccinations are essential for travel to certain foreign countries, there are others that, while not mandatory, are advisable. A number of them are included in the Spanish Social Security vaccination schedule, such as the tetanus and hepatitis B vaccines. 

 

Cholera

Predominant in Africa, Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Vaccination with two doses, seven days apart, is recommended. Immunity lasts between six and twelve months.

Typhoid fever

Recommended for trips to places with poor hygiene. If you choose oral administration, it is necessary to take three capsules every 48 hours at least ten days before travelling. If given by intramuscular injection, a single dose should be administered at least 14 days prior to travel. The vaccination can be repeated every three years.

Hepatitis A

The highest risk is in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. It requires two or three doses. Protection starts between two to four weeks after the first dose and lasts up to 20 years. It is recommended that travellers be vaccinated at least two weeks prior to travel, although last-minute vaccination can offer significant protection.

Hepatitis B

The highest rates are found in the Western Pacific and Africa. It is advisable to start vaccination at least six weeks before travel, thus acquiring protection for at least twenty years. The usual schedule includes three doses administered by intramuscular injection: the second after 30 days and the third six to twelve months later. In emergencies, accelerated four-dose schedules (at months 0, 1 and 2, with a booster one year later) can be used. It is also possible to combine hepatitis A and B vaccines. For those over 16 years of age, there is an accelerated schedule of four doses.

Tetanus

If it is the first time, it is advisable to take the dose at least one month before the trip. In this case, the complete dosing schedule includes three intramuscular shots, the first two with a minimum of four weeks between them. A booster is recommended six to twelve months after the second dose.

Rabies

Vaccination against this disease is specially advisable for travellers planning to visit Africa and Asia. The method of administration and time required for immunisation varies depending on the type of vaccine used.

 

Where should I go to be vaccinated for travelling abroad?

It is common to not know where to get vaccinated for travelling abroad. To get vaccinated for travelling abroad in Spain, you can go to the International Vaccination Centres appointed by the Ministry of Health in each province. To receive the necessary vaccinations on time, it is best to make an appointment online.

Once the vaccine has been administered, the patient will be given a vaccination certificate for travelling abroad, which is an official document that verifies the doses received.
 

 

How far in advance do I need to be vaccinated?

It is advisable to be vaccinated at least 4-6 weeks before travelling. There are also options for last-minute travellers to be able to travel because some vaccines provide limited protection even if they have been given shortly before leaving. It is also possible to receive some vaccines on an accelerated basis in combined doses or in shorter dosing schedules.

 

How much does international vaccination cost?

The price of international vaccination varies according to the type of vaccine and the vaccination centre. Fees are usually charged for the medical consultation and for each dose of vaccine. These fees usually range between 20 and 50 euros per consultation and between 20 and 100 euros per vaccine dose, depending on the complexity and type of vaccine needed

 

Other recommendations for travelling abroad

In addition to getting the corresponding vaccines, if you travel abroad it is always advisable to keep these tips in mind:
Don't drink water from the tap. Avoid this in countries where potability is not guaranteed to prevent gastrointestinal diseases.
Take medication with you. Make sure you take any prescribed medication with you and enough supply for the length of the trip, as well as any medicine to treat common ailments.
Find out about security. Before travelling, research the security situation in your destination, especially in areas at risk of conflict or natural disasters.
Copies of important documents. Make copies of you passport and credit cards, and keep them in a safe place in case the originals are lost or stolen.
Travel insurance. Take out a travel insurance policy that covers medical emergencies, flight cancellations and loss of luggage to give you peace of mind during your trip. We recommend checking which countries require their visitors to have mandatory travel insurance.

 

Frequently asked questions