In this Article

• Why do we need vaccines? What is immunization? What is immunity?
• How can I become immune (protected)?
• Are there different types of vaccines?
• Can I receive multiple vaccinations during one visit to the doctor?
• Are there any dangers to being immunized?
• What reactions are likely after an immunization?
• Who should not receive a vaccine?
• If I am pregnant, which vaccines can I receive?
• What are invalid reasons for postponing vaccination?
• Why do we keep giving vaccines if the numbers of cases of the vaccine preventable diseases are at a record low in the United States?
• Is there any financial help for people who have been injured by vaccines?
• I am a health-care worker. Is there anything different that I need to do compared with non-health-care workers?
• I am planning foreign travel. Do I need any additional vaccinations?
• Where can I find additional information on immunizations?
• Vaccination FAQs Index

I am planning foreign travel. Do I need any additional vaccinations?

There are a number of vaccines that are not routinely given in the U.S. that are recommended for foreign travel. Which vaccines you need completely depends on the country to which you are traveling. The CDC has a Web site that is constantly updated with recommendations for vaccines (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/). By simply navigating to the country you plan to travel to, you can learn which are the recommended vaccines. These vaccines can then be obtained from many local health departments or travel clinics. A list of private clinics in each state can be found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/
contentTravelClinics.aspx.

Travelers going to sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America are required by International Health Regulations to have yellow fever vaccination. All other vaccines are simply recommended to protect the traveler. Common vaccines given for foreign travel include hepatitis A vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and typhoid vaccine. U.S. citizens who have not received their recommended (routine) vaccinations (Tdap, MMR, polio, etc.) should make sure that they get all routinely recommended vaccines before traveling. Many of these diseases are still very common in other parts of the world.

Where can I find additional information on immunizations?

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site for vaccines and immunizations at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm. This is updated annually in the fall of the year.

2. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: The Pink Book: Course Textbook Updated 10th Edition, 2nd Printing (March 2008) at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/default.htm

3. Recommendations on immunization for health-care workers at http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2017.pdf

4. http://www.immunize.org/

5. http://www.immunizationed.org/

6. Traveler information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Flu Vaccine - Get the facts about influenza vaccine (flu shot) ingredients, side effects and vaccination effectiveness. Learn who should (children, pregnant women, elderly) and shouldn't get a flu shot.
• Shingles - Read about shingles symptoms (contagious rash), vaccine, causes (chickenpox [varicella] virus, stress), treatment, how it's transmitted and postherpetic neuralgia.
• Childhood Vaccination Schedule - Read our printable children's immunization schedule and learn about vaccines for kids (Hib, polio, DTaP, MMR, HPV, flu, chickenpox, meningitis, rotavirus, pneumonia, hepatitis A and B).

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