Adult vaccination in travelers

The number of international travelers annually is continuously growing. The incidence of infectious disease is very high among travelers, and common infectious diseases with risks to international travelers are currently real concern. Educating travelers about potential risk of infectious diseases acquired during travel and prevention strategies through appropriate pretravel vaccination is a key component for preventing infectious complications among travelers. The approach to vaccine recommendation should be based on the travel’s destination, purpose and duration of travel, traveler’s demographics, current knowledge of the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, medical history, past vaccinations characteristics and the time available before trip departure. There are three categories of vaccinations for foreign travel. The first category includes vaccinations which are routinely recommended whether or not the individual is traveling. Many travelers are due for primary vaccination or boosting against tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, pneumococcal pneumonia, and influenza, for example, and the pre-travel visit is an ideal time to administer these. The second category are vaccinations which might be required by a country as a condition for entry, as for examples are vaccines for meningococcal, yellow fever and poliomyelitis. According to the International Health Regulations, many countries require these vaccinations and proof there of as the International Certificate of vaccination. The final category contains vaccinations which are recommended because there is a risk of acquiring a particular disease during travel. Recommended vaccinations often are more important for traveller’s health than the required or routine ones. Typhoid fever, rabies, and hepatitis are some examples. Travelers who are pregnant or who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus require special consideration. Physicians should be aware of the adverse events and contraindications associated with each travel vaccine. Key words: Vaccine recommendation; Preventing illness; International traveler.