Travel vaccinations and travel health advice

In short: Before long-haul trips, travel health advice is well worthwhile. It clarifies which vaccinations and protective measures make sense for the destination, the type of trip and your own health.

In more detail: Some vaccinations require several doses or need time before protection builds up. So it is best to get information several weeks before departure.

In detail

• Plan early: Ideally seek advice about six to eight weeks before the trip. Advice is still worthwhile at short notice, though.
• Who advises: GP surgeries with travel medicine experience, tropical medicine institutes and public health offices offer advice. Official travel and health advice from the foreign ministry gives a first overview.
• Check routine vaccinations: A trip is a good opportunity to check your vaccination record, for example tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles.
• Common travel vaccinations: Depending on the destination, vaccinations against hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis or meningococcal disease may be recommended.
• Yellow fever: Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination on entry. It is only given at approved vaccination centres and recorded in the international certificate of vaccination.
• Malaria: For travellers, protection against mosquitoes is the most important measure, especially at dusk and at night. Depending on the region, medicines for prevention or for emergency treatment may also be prescribed.
• Mosquito protection: Long, light-coloured clothing, insect repellent on the skin and mosquito nets also protect against other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue.
• Special situations: Pregnancy, chronic illnesses, a weakened immune system or travelling with children should always be mentioned during the consultation.
• Costs and records: Whether health insurance covers travel vaccinations varies and should be checked in advance. Take your vaccination record with you (impfungen-grundlagen, reiseapotheke-zusammenstellen, visum-und-einreisegenehmigung).