Travel vaccinations: Individual consultation
Seek advice from a travel physician before you travel. This may be a physician in private practice who specializes in this area or a medical advisor at a tropical institute. The travel physician can tell you which travel vaccinations are advisable for you personally. Decisive factors include the destination, travel time, type of travel, individual vaccination status and any underlying diseases.
It is best to schedule your consultation four to six weeks before you travel. The immune system needs some time for the vaccine protection to fully develop. For some basic immunizations, moreover, several vaccinations are required at certain intervals.
But even if you decide to travel at short notice, you should still seek advice and get vaccinated if necessary. A not quite complete vaccination protection is better than none.
Do not forget your vaccination certificate!
Travel vaccinations: Costs
Travel vaccinations are not a fixed health insurance benefit. However, many health insurance companies cover the costs voluntarily. Therefore, ask your insurer in advance. As a rule, the traveler initially pays the bill out of his or her own pocket and then later submits it to the health insurance company for reimbursement.
The most important travel vaccinations
In Germany, the Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO) of the Robert Koch Institute is responsible for vaccination recommendations. In addition to general vaccination recommendations, the STIKO also makes recommendations for travel vaccinations. These include:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a form of virus-related liver inflammation. It is transmitted by smear infection or contaminated food. Vaccination is ideally given at least two weeks before travel.
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease, which – if not treated immediately – is always fatal! The rabies vaccination is best started at least four weeks before travel. For full protection, three injections are necessary, which are administered within this period.
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is also a life-threatening viral infection. It is mainly found in tropical Africa and South America. Get vaccinated against yellow fever at least ten days before departure. Vaccination is strongly recommended when traveling to high-risk areas and is even required by many high-risk countries upon entry.
Japanese encephalitis
Early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME)
TBE is a virus-related inflammation of the meninges and/or the brain. The pathogen is transmitted by the bite of ticks. The risk areas, where many ticks carry the TBE pathogen, are also expanding in Germany, which is why the TBE vaccination is advisable in many places in this country as well. The basic immunization consists of three injections. The first two injections are given at intervals of one to three months, and the third vaccination is given nine to twelve months later.
Polio (Poliomyelitis)
Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that in severe cases can leave permanent damage (such as paralysis). In Germany, polio vaccination is recommended for all infants. Those traveling to high-risk areas should have the vaccination booster two months before travel.
Meningococcal
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a bacterial diarrheal disease that can take the form of abdominal typhoid fever or, in a milder form, paratyphoid fever. The disease is widespread in regions with poor hygienic standards. For longer stays in such areas, a typhoid vaccination can therefore be useful. It can be given as an oral vaccination or as an injection two weeks before travel.
Influenza
Influenza viruses also circulate abroad. Therefore, the STIKO recommends a flu vaccination two weeks before travel. In Germany, vaccination has been carried out since the 2017/18 season with a so-called quadruple vaccine, which protects against all four influenza types – including the new type of the B strain, which first appeared in 2015.
Further protective measures
Depending on the destination, further protective measures may be indicated. For example, anyone traveling to cholera or malaria risk areas should find out in advance what measures are appropriate.
- Malaria: There is no vaccination against malaria. Instead, malaria prophylaxis consists of measures to protect against mosquito bites (mosquitoes transmit the malaria pathogen) and, if necessary, the preventive use of medication. It may also be useful to take malaria medication with you for self-treatment in an emergency (standby therapy).
Travel vaccinations for children
For many countries, special travel vaccinations are recommended or even mandatory. However, for many vaccinations there is a minimum age at which protection can be built up.
The following table shows the minimum age for important travel vaccinations:
|
Vaccination |
Minimum age |
|
Cholera |
2 years |
|
TBE |
in children under 3 years of age only after careful justification (strict indication) |
|
Yellow fever |
9 months (6 months in case of strict indication) |
|
12 months |
|
|
2. month of life |
|
|
Rabies |
no age limit |
Therefore, before each long-distance trip, carefully discuss the benefits and risks of the protective measures for yourself and your child with a doctor. Plan the vaccinations as early as possible so that there is sufficient vaccination protection when you leave. For longer stays abroad, make sure that the vaccination schedule continues as usual in Germany.
Further protective measures when traveling
Even those who are vaccinated should consider protective measures to be on the safe side.
Safe water, safe meals
In many countries, it is advisable to drink only boiled water or water from bottles with an intact cap. This also applies to brushing teeth and cleaning dishes. In addition, avoid ice cubes in drinks.
In many countries, raw vegetables and seafood should be eaten with caution – or preferably not at all. When it comes to fruit, go for those varieties that are peeled before eating.