Travel Vaccines & Immunizations

Going overseas is an exciting adventure, but you might be at risk of catching diseases that are rare in the United States. Anne-Marie Odo, DNP, and her team at Semper Healthcare Services in Addison, Texas, offer travel vaccines and immunizations that ensure you stay safe abroad. Call Semper Healthcare Services to arrange a travel vaccine and immunization review, or book an appointment today by completing the online form.

What are travel vaccines and immunizations?

Travel vaccines and immunizations protect you from diseases that are rare or don’t exist in the United States but are common in other parts of the world. They typically involve having one or several injections before you travel.

Travel vaccines and immunizations protect you from many conditions, some of which are life-threatening. Common travel vaccines include:

• Malaria
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Diphtheria
• Rabies
• Japanese encephalitis

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, you should check you’re protected from the current strains before traveling. It’s also vital to ensure that vaccines for diseases such as tetanus and hepatitis A and B are up to date before leaving the US.

How do travel vaccines and immunizations work?

Travel vaccines and immunizations work the same way as the vaccines you had as a child. They consist of various substances, including dead or inactive forms of the disease, toxins produced by the virus or bacteria, and in many modern vaccines, segments of DNA or RNA (genetic material).

The substance in the vaccine has enough information to prime your immune system so it recognizes that disease if it enters your body. The immune system reacts by sending antibodies — cells that match the virus or bacteria’s cells — to kill the invaders.

Vaccines have been in use for many years and have an excellent safety record. The likelihood of side effects is minimal, and they offer protection from diseases that could prove fatal.

What travel vaccines and immunizations do I need?

Talk to the Semper Healthcare Services team to find out which travel vaccines and immunizations you need. You might have immunization records to refer to for previous vaccinations, but if not, your provider can take a blood sample to test for antibodies where necessary.

The team will advise you on the immunizations you need for the countries you’re visiting. For up-to-date information, you can also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US State Department travel advice websites.

Some travel vaccine and immunization programs take eight weeks to complete, so don’t forget to organize your visit well in advance of your trip.

Call Semper Healthcare Services today to discuss your travel vaccine and immunization requirements or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.