Round the World Preparation (Vaccinations)

RTW Vaccinations

There are a few ways to sort this out. The internet and Google are obvious sources of information but sometimes views can conflict. Matters concerning your health are obviously important and critical so the most accurate information is essential.

Your local GP will know exactly what to suggest and have a list of clinics at hand. Some GP's will offer a vaccination service themselves. Write down the countries and areas within those countries that you are going to visit. The clinic can then check against a database which countries require which vaccination.

Some will be injections and others will be in tablet form. Malaria protection is most often taken orally and come in different strengths. Some you will have to take one week before you travel to the infected area and others that have to be taken daily for months.

Be sure to read the side effects of whichever brand of tablets you are consuming. It is important to know what symptoms to expect in case some arise. In my case the tablets i was taking stated that if consumed for durations longer than one month side effects such as rashes and weeping sores may occur. This actually happened after the second week of the second month in india. Take the packaging and instructions with you on your round the world trip so that doctors abroad can refer to them in emergencies.

Set aside around £80-£100 for injections and tablets before you fly to your first destination. Yellow fever vaccinations are the most expensive but when you add up the countries you are visiting, and the amount of ways you can catch an infection its worth the expense; budget for it.

Its worth noting that if you are slightly ill before receiving your flurry of jabs, the combination of all those injections concentrated over a short time can make you feel extremely sick. But this is normal and passes quickly, so there is no need to cancel your round the world trip! None the less, if this happens to you like it did to me, consult your GP anyway.

Some Recommended Vaccinations

Africa:

Tuberculosis (3 months before travel)
Hepatitis B (2 months before travel)
Rabies (1 month before travel)
Meningococcal meningitis (2-3 weeks before travel)

India:

As above but also including:

Japanese B encephilitis (1 month before travel)

China:

Typhoid (1o days before travel)
Tuberculosis (3 months before travel)
Hepatitis B (2 months before travel)
Rabies (1 month before travel)
Tick-borne encephilitis
Japanese B encephilitis (1 month before travel)

Thailand:

Tuberculosis (3 months before travel)
Hepatitis B (2 months before travel)
Rabies (1 month before travel)
Japanese B encephilitis (1 month before travel)

Australia:

Japanese B encephilitis (1 month before travel)

For more information check out www.netdoctor.co.uk