Vaccines for Travel

• Vaccination
• List of Vaccines Recommended for Travel
• Required Vaccinations
• Vaccination Records
• Other Related Information

Vaccination

• When travelling, you may be at risk for a number of illnesses that can be prevented by vaccination. As you age, your vaccine-acquired protection against many illnesses may decrease. Your risk of getting certain diseases may also increase.
• You should see a doctor, nurse or health care provider for a health assessment before you travel abroad. This provides an opportunity to:
  • review your vaccination history,
  • make sure you are up-to-date according to your provincial/territorial vaccination program,
    
  • discuss any health concerns you may have related to your trip, and
    
  • assess your needs based on where you plan to travel and what you plan to do.
    
• Additional shots may be recommended depending on your age, anticipated travel activities and local conditions. Remember that preventing infection through vaccination is a lifelong process.

List of Vaccines Recommended for Travel

The following diseases can be prevented by vaccination.  Your health care provider may recommend that you get vaccinated against one or more of these diseases prior to travel.

• chicken pox
• cholera
• diphtheria
• European tick-borne encephalitis
• German measles (rubella)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease(Hib)
• Hepatitis A and B
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• influenza
• Japanese encephalitis
• measles
• meningitis (meningococcal disease)
• mumps
• pneumonia (pneumococcal disease)
• polio
• rabies
• tetanus
• typhoid
• whooping cough (pertussis )
• yellow fever

Required Vaccinations

• Some countries require that you have received a Yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years and have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis before you can enter the country.
• Many countries require this proof of yellow fever vaccination if you’ve passed through an area where yellow fever may occur. Without such proof, you may be refused entry, quarantined or vaccinated.
• Yellow fever vaccination is only given at designated yellow fever vaccination centres.  
• Some countries require that you receive specific vaccinations before you arrive.  For example, Saudi Arabia requires proof of meningococcal vaccination for all pilgrims and proof of polio vaccination for all children going to Mecca during the Hajj.

Vaccination Records

• Keep your family’s vaccination records in a safe and accessible place and carry copies when you travel.
• If your destination country requires proof of yellow fever vaccination, you must carry the original International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Keep a copy of this certificate at home.

Other Related Information

• See the Canadian Immunization Guide, Seventh Edition, 2006 for Recommended Immunization Schedules and more information about Immunization of Travellers.