Complete Guide to Travel Vaccination before Going to a New Place

Complete Guide to Travel Vaccination before Going to a New Place
A vaccine produces immunity against a specific disease. And the process through which a person acquires immunity via vaccination is called immunization. A vaccine introduces fragments of the microorganisms in the body, the immune system acts on the fragments by making antibodies and destroys them. These antibodies remain in the system even after the elimination of all antigens, making us immune to a certain disease. So, the process of immunization and vaccination serves as a training program for the immune system which prepares it for potential exposure to the specific disease-causing microorganism.

Even if you have administered every vaccination recommended by the NHS, additional vaccination is necessary when travelling to another country as the immunization process of the UK does not cover vaccines for diseases that are common overseas. There are several diseases around the world that have no cure and can be lethal if you are not vaccinated for them.

Required Vaccinations for Travel

If you are planning to travel you should know that some countries require evidence of vaccination against certain diseases. But, it also depends on where you are planning to travel, for example, if you want to have an adventurous week in an under-developed or a developing country, you would require certain vaccines that are not very popular in the UK. You’ll also require additional vaccines if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.

Make sure that you are up to date on your regular vaccinations (measles, mumps etc.), certain diseases may be rare in the UK but they are more common in other countries especially in rural areas. You should also make a travel plan and discuss your itinerary with your healthcare provider to find out if you require any destination-specific vaccines.

When Should You Get Vaccinated?

Schedule your vaccinations at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. This is the amount of time required by the vaccine to develop immunity against the disease. It will also give you enough time to get a booster shot for vaccines that require a second dose.

Where to Go to Get Vaccinated For Travel?

The best option is to try finding a travel clinic in your area. If you live anywhere around South West London you can visit the travel clinic in Tooting, owned by Pearl Chemist Group, well-known for their travel clinic services. Other than that you can also look for a pharmacy that is providing travel clinic facilities.

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