Planning to travel outside the UAE? You may need to be vaccinated against serious diseases that might be found in other parts of the world.
Vaccinations before travelling can protect you against infections, such as Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal Meningitis. You may also need a prescription to prevent you from contracting Malaria.
It’s advisable to see a Family Medicine doctor at least 8 weeks before you travel. Some vaccines should be given well in advance, to allow the body time to develop immunity. You’re going to be at a higher risk of encountering diseases if you’re travelling to rural areas, backpacking, or camping. Additionally, you will be at a higher risk of infection and health complications, if you have an existing health problem.
Consult a Family Medicine doctor to seek advice if you are:
- Pregnant, planning to be pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an immune deficiency disease
- Have any type of allergy
Hepatitis A vaccination:
If you are travelling to countries with a poor level of sanitation, food hygiene and Hepatitis A is common.
It is a single dose injection with a second dose in 6 to 12 months. The two doses give protection for 20 years. It’s preferred to get the first dose of this vaccine 2 weeks before travelling and a 2nd dose a day before travelling, if advised by your doctor.
Hepatitis B Vaccination:
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids.
Injecting drugs, sex or playing contact sports or needing medical care during your travel can increase the risk of this infection. Hepatitis B vaccination is a course of 3 injections. This can be spread over 6 months or as short as 3 weeks.
If you had the 3 injections in the past, you may need to have a blood test, to check if you are immune and that you don’t require a booster dose.
Hajj or Umrah vaccination:
Risk of this infection increases in some areas of mass gatherings, for example during Hajj or Omrah. All travellers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Omrah should take with them documented proof of vaccination.
It is a single injection which should be given 2-3 weeks before your travel. Babies under 1 year need 2 injections.
Tetanus vaccination:
This is usually one of the national vaccines in combination. This vaccine should be given to travellers to areas where access to medical services is limited or the last vaccination dose was taken more than 10 years ago.
Typhoid vaccination:
This is against typhoid fever. It is recommended to travellers to areas with poor sanitation and food hygiene, and for those staying with local people. Ideally, it should be given one month before travel, but can also be given closer to your travel date, if needed. A booster dose is recommended every 3 years if you continue to be at risk.
Malaria protection:
Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites. Travelling to some areas gives increase risk of Malaria infection.
Protect yourself of mosquito bites and ask your doctor to prescribe you a medicine which protects you from this serious infection.
Check the world’s map that shows the areas of the high risk of Malaria.
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