Are you planning a trip abroad? With new diseases and older ones getting more powerful, it is essential to be up to date on all the vaccines for you and your loved ones, especially before your next international trip. Make sure to add your pre-travel vaccinations to your travel checklist.

International travel vaccines are vaccinations recommended before travelling to any foreign country to protect you against any epidemic from your country of origin or your destination. 

This step protects against diseases spreading from one country to another. While some countries have a standard list of vaccinations, others require you to bring proof of specific vaccinations before entering or exiting the country.

Most countries have a standard vaccination requirement, most of which you must have gotten in childhood. However, with Covid-19 still present in the air, it is essential to be up to date on all your vaccine doses. Before flying off to your destination for the vacation, make sure you have all the approved vaccinations and any country-specific mandatory vaccinations.

You can check with your doctor for any advice regarding your international travel vaccines and medicines, or you can see a Travel Medicine Specialist with the help of the International Society of Travel Medicine. It is vital to get the vaccinations done from trusted and reputed sources that provide proof of immunisation to avoid unexpected problems during your journey.

Before your journey date, contact your doctor for information about what vaccinations you will need for your destination country. Based on that information, book your appointments at least 6 to 8 weeks before to give the vaccine some time to be effective.

As a traveller, you want to have a worry-free vacation that will help you relax. Falling sick during your travel is not on your list of adventures! However, in case you do fall ill, travel insurance helps you in a way that you can go about your journey worry-free and without burning a hole in your pocket.

 Here's what your international travel insurance covers when it comes to medical emergencies:

• Ambulance service
• Doctor bills
• Hospital and operating room charges
• X-rays, examinations, treatments, lab tests and anaesthetics
• Drugs and medicines
• Dental care, in case of emergency dental surgery or consultation 

So, even though you are excited about your upcoming journeys, ensure you have all your vaccinations to enjoy a hassle-free holiday and remember to get your travel insurance!

1. Plan your vaccinations well in advance to avoid any overlaps and in a way that it gives the vaccine time to become effective.
2. Your primary care doctor may not stock travel vaccinations. In such case, visit a travel medical clinic.
3. You will need to plan your pre-travel appointments
4. Since there are a limited number of clinics that give the yellow fever vaccine, you might have to go to a different city for the same. Make sure you get the same at least 10 days before your date of travel.