Travel Vaccinations

Vaccination for all travellers
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends certain vaccinations as routine for all travellers. These include: 

Tetanus
Diphtheria
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Varicella (chicken pox)
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Polio.
The common diseases of childhood occur more frequently in developing countries, but they can also occur in adults in Western countries.

Vaccination for travellers with special needs
Some additional vaccinations are recommended for travellers who are at risk of infection or other health problems. This includes people with asthma, respiratory and cardiac conditions, metabolic conditions (such as diabetes) and anyone over 65 years of age. Vaccinations include: 

Influenza
Pneumonia.

Vaccination for young travellers
Young people are also routinely offered vaccination against: 

Meningococcal C
Hepatitis B
Cervical cancer.

Vaccinations for travellers to high risk areas
Developing countries often have a higher risk of particular diseases. Your doctor will advise you of the immunisations you need, based on your travel plans. Vaccinations recommended for travellers to high risk areas include: 

Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Meningococcal meningitis
Tuberculosis
Rabies
Japanese encephalitis
Yellow fever.
Cholera vaccination is no longer recommended by the World Health Organization for any country.

Vaccination for specific diseases
Hepatitis A
This is the most common vaccine-preventable disease in travelers.
It is spread by contaminated food or water.
The cause is a virus.
Symptoms include fever, lack of energy (malaise) and jaundice (yellow skin colour).
Hepatitis A is rarely fatal.
Symptomatic treatment is the only treatment available.
Vaccination is safe and extremely effective.

Hepatitis B
This is spread by body fluid – commonly through sexual intercourse or shared syringes, but also by accident.
The cause is a virus.
Symptoms include fever, lack of energy (malaise) and jaundice (yellow skin colour).
Around half of all cases worldwide result in death.
Vaccination is safe and extremely effective.

Typhoid
This is common in developing countries.
The cause is a bacterium.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache and sometimes a rash.
Typhoid can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
Vaccinations must be completed at least one week before travelling.

Rabies
This is common to North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The cause is a virus passed on by a bite or scratch from an infected dog or any mammal that carries the virus.
Symptoms include headache and fever, then convulsions and death.
A three-dose vaccination is given over 3–4 weeks prior to travel.
All animal bites and scratches should be immediately and thoroughly washed with soap and water for at least 10 minutes.
Treatment after a bite from a possibly rabid animal involves a course of five vaccines and, if previously unvaccinated, an injection of immunoglobulin.

Meningococcal meningitis
This is common in sub-Saharan Africa.
The cause is a virus spread by aerosol droplets.
Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion and neurological damage.
Treatment can only ease the symptoms.
Vaccination is a legal requirement for some countries.

Tuberculosis
This is common in developing countries.
The cause is a bacterium spread by aerosol droplets.
Symptoms include persistent cough and fever.
Treatment involves a prolonged course of antibiotics.
Vaccination is recommended only for some travellers to high risk areas for prolonged periods and must be preceded by a special skin (Mantoux) test.

Japanese encephalitis
This is present throughout greater Asia.
The cause is a virus spread by infected mosquitoes.
Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion and neurological damage.
Treatment can only ease the symptoms.
Three doses of vaccine are required well before you travel.

Yellow fever
This is present in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa.
The cause is a virus spread by infected mosquitoes.
Symptoms include fever, headache, bloody vomiting, jaundice and death.
The vaccination gives immunity for around 10 years.
Vaccination is a legal requirement for some countries and certification can only be given by an authorised travel health clinic.