Traveling Overseas This Summer? Now's the Time to Consider Travel Vaccines

You may wonder if traveling with your kids overseas is worth the money and hassle. The answer is yes. While they may not remember the details of the trip, depending on their age, the impression of experiencing different cultures will affect them. One education expert says that meeting people who are different from them helps them become more empathic and comfortable with new and different people. 

Plus, you’ll gain wonderful memories of international adventures with your children, even if the memories don’t stick in their young brains. But traveling internationally takes more advanced planning than hopping on a plane to a beach resort for you and your children. So, if you’re thinking of planning a trip overseas this summer, now is the time to look into travel vaccines.

At Sima Stein, MD, in San Jose, California, board-certified pediatrician Dr. Stein offers travel vaccines as well as travel advice for your trip with your family. Dr. Stein’s expert advice on health and safety while traveling overseas can help ease your nerves and prepare you for your adventure. Here, Dr. Stein shares her best advice to help families plan a healthy and memorable overseas summer vacation.

Travel vaccine timing

Depending on where you’re traveling, you may need vaccinations against diseases not present in the United States. For example, if you’re traveling to South America or Africa, you’ll need a vaccine to protect you against yellow fever, which is transmitted through mosquito bites.

Different countries carry different risks of diseases. You can check the CDC website for information on recommended vaccinations and precautions for your destination and also schedule a consultation with Dr. Stein to determine which vaccines you need. Some vaccinations she may recommend include:

• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Japanese B encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Rabies
• Influenza
• Hepatitis A & B

Most immunizations take about a month to take effect, so be sure to schedule your appointment with Dr. Stein about 4-6 weeks before your trip. This gives you enough time to schedule all the necessary vaccines, especially if there are multiple doses. If you don’t have 4-6 weeks before your trip, schedule an appointment with Dr. Stein anyway since the vaccines may still have a protective effect.

Stay up to date on all routine vaccines

While children in the US routinely receive vaccines against mumps, measles, polio, and other serious illnesses, many countries do not. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your child receives all their routine vaccines before traveling. 

If your child isn’t scheduled to receive certain vaccinations because of their age, you can discuss an alternative vaccine schedule with Dr. Stein. Additionally, the CDC recommends getting your annual flu and COVID-19 vaccine before traveling.

In addition to diseases, travelers are vulnerable to certain illnesses, such as diarrhea. Dr. Stein can recommend what to carry in a travel first aid kit to prepare you to address common issues and ailments. If you’re getting ready to embark on an overseas trip this summer,  contact Sima Stein, MD, to schedule a travel consultation.