AOL: Get vaccinated four to eight weeks before you leave.
Plan the trip of a lifetime — China, India, a cruise down the Amazon or an African safari — now how many people are prepared? Not many, according to Dr. Mirella Salvatore, Interim Medical Director of the Infectious Disease Associates of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. “The biggest mistake people make is not planning ahead. People come into the clinic and say, ‘I’m leaving tomorrow. What should I do?’ Many travelers that could have benefited from vaccinations have to go unprotected, because there is not enough time. Some antibodies take weeks to develop.”
Choose your destinations wisely.
For older people or anyone with other health issues, check with a physician before you even book a trip to a high-risk destination. “A patient may decide to go to a place where yellow fever is endemic,” reports Dr. Salvatore, “But yellow fever is a live vaccine, with a higher risk of side effects for older people with health problems. People who are immuno-compromised could have chosen a less challenging destination.”
It’s all in the details.
When you see your doctor, bring a record of previous vaccinations and a detailed itinerary. As an example, for one traveler to Brazil, headed for Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest health risk may be STDs; for a backpacker intent on visiting Iguaçu Falls, yellow fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, and even rabies may be dangers. Depending on your destination, some other vaccines to discuss with your doctor include: typhoid, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis. Keep a record of all vaccines and keep it with your passport.
Don’t be stingy.
Dr. Ronald Primas, the Medical Director of NY Hotel Urgent Medical Services, has seen travelers before they leave on a trip — and after things go wrong. “The people that I treat who get into the most trouble are the most frugal” — in other words, those who may not want to spend money on the recommended drugs or vaccinations. Dr. Primas also cautions, “The #1 reason people cancel a trip or return home early is a dental emergency. See the dentist before you leave, and pack a dental emergency kit.” … (more)
