Viral vaccines for overseas travel

Vaccination planning should begin well in advance of the travel date and take heed of travellers' past vaccinations, proposed itineraries and the type of food and accommodation they will use. Travellers should have completed and maintained appropriate vaccination against the common childhood infections, e.g. measles, polio, etc. Influenza vaccine should be offered to individuals at risk of serious disease who are travelling to areas in their influenza season and to all travellers entering areas with current influenza virus activity. All travellers should take appropriate precautions against mosquito bites. Japanese encephalitis vaccine should be given only to those at substantial risk. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for people travelling into areas where yellow fever is endemic and adjacent areas but should be given to children under 6 months of age (and pregnant women) only if absolutely necessary. Use of rabies vaccine prior to exposure is mainly limited to travellers who will have contact with animals in countries where rabies is endemic. Immunisation against hepatitis A is recommended for those spending long periods in any developing country or countries with lower hygiene levels, and for travellers to highly endemic areas except those intending brief stays in high-class accommodation in large cities. Administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin with the first dose of vaccine provides urgent protection for individuals at high risk. (author abstract)