• Hepatitis A is an infection that damages the liver

• You can get Hepatitis A by drinking contaminated water or eating raw fruits and vegetables prepared with contaminated water

• Hepatitis A is a concern when eating locally in developing countries

• The Hepatitis A vaccine series (two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine typically spaced six months apart) will provide lifetime protection against Hepatitis A 

• Your first shot should be given at least 24h prior to departure

• Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that cause liver damage 

• You can get Hepatitis A by drinking contaminated water or eating raw fruit and vegetables prepared with contaminated water

• Hepatitis A is a concern when eating locally in developing countries

• Hepatitis B is spread through sexual contact, contaminated blood products and dirty needles

• While Hepatitis A typically clears after two months, Hepatitis B is a chronic infection

• Vaccination with Twinrix will stop you from developing both Hepatitis A and B

• A standard series is three shots over six months, an accelerated series is three shots within one month and a booster at 1 year

• Your first shot should be at least 24h prior to depar

Typhoid causes severe stomach upset

• Typhim Vi is an injection while Vivotif comes as pills.

• Typhoid is a concern when eating locally outside of North America and Western Europe, particularly for trips lasting over 2 weeks

• India and Pakistan are hotspots for drug-resistant Typhoid

• Vivotif is a live vaccine, providing 7 years of protection- it may be a good choice if you intend to do multiple international trips

• The injectable option is inactivated (not live) and provides protection for 3 years

• You should get your shot at least 2 weeks prior to your trip

• Japanese Encephalitis is a rare serious neurological condition which develops after being bitten by an infected mosquito in certain rural parts of Southeast Asia

• Two doses spaced at least a week apart confers immunity

• The hotspot for Japanese encephalitis is the island of Bali- particularly rural areas

• You should get two shots at least one week before your trip

• Avoid close contact with wild animals, as scratches and bites may transmit rabies

• Consider getting vaccinated for any trip, particularly if you will be travelling for a prolonged period or if you are are heading somewhere 'off the beaten track' where it may take some time to reach reliable healthcare

• If you choose to be vaccinated, you will have three shots spaced over four weeks

• Worldwide, stray dogs and bats carry rabies, and sometimes other animals

• Untreated, rabies is 100% fatal

• You should get 3 shots prior to departure. You should start the series 4 weeks before your trip

• Meningococcal meningitis is a series illness with a high death rate 

• Menactra is now routinely given to grade 7 students in Ontario

• The  ‘meningitis belt’ in sub-Saharan Africa takes its name from meningitis outbreaks that occur annually during the dry season (December to June)

• If you are traveling to sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season, it is a good idea to get vaccinated

• Yellow fever is a serious illness with a very high death rate (20%) that can result from being bitten by an infected mosquitos in parts of South America and sub-Saharan Africa 

• Immigration officials in many Yellow fever-endemic countries will require you to show them your yellow fever vaccination certificate 

• Across Canada, Travel Clinics require a special designation to be able to administer Yellow Fever vaccine: Travel Clinic @ MDACC as well as the partner pharmacies have this designation

• The World Health Organization previously recommended one dose every 10 years

• In 2016, the WHO changed their recommendation so that now one dose of Yellow fever vaccine is thought to provide lifetime immunity (with several exceptions)

• Yellow fever vaccine should be given at least 10 days prior to your trip

• Cholera is common in settings with poor sanitation such as aid and refugee camps

• Individuals with Cholera experience severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps which can lead to dehydration 

• Dukoral is a self-administered oral vaccine which can prevent cholera and had some efficacy against Traveller's diarrhea

• Two doses of the liquid vaccine mixture are taken at least a week apart

• The second dose of Dukoral should be taken at least one week before your trip

• Anyone with a history of chickenpox may develop shingles

• Shingles vaccine is recommended to anyone over 50 to prevent shingles as well as the chronic nerve pain that sometimes results from the infection 

• Shingles can be triggered by stress, and, for some, travel is a stressful.

• Planes, trains, buses and cruise ships are all cramped- this means infected passengers can spread the flu

• Flu vaccine is recommended prior to travel

• Tetanus infection (or lockjaw) is thankfully uncommon in Canada, but it certainly does exist abroad

• Make sure you are up to date with your tetanus vaccine

• Tetanus can be transmitted via spider bites as well as rusty nails lodged in the skin

• Tetanus vaccine is always given in conjunction with diphtheria, and sometimes alongside pertussis and/or polio. 

• Unfortunately, outbreaks of measles have become quite common across the globe due to reduced uptake in MMR vaccination 

• The 'research' linking autism to the MMR vaccine has been completely disproven 

• In recent years, some measles outbreaks have been traced to airports

• If you are travelling internationally (even to the USA) with infants under 12 months, considering getting an early MMR

• Adults should have evidence of at least one- ideally two- measles-containing vaccines or a history of measles to be considered immune