Don’t Assume You Don’t Need Vaccines When Traveling Internationally!
Dr. Paul Silberman and his dental team in Southern Maryland care about your overall health. Today we write a blog about a very important topic: traveling smart by learning about necessary vaccines when traveling abroad.
Why Consider Vaccines When Travelling Abroad?
It is important to get recommended vaccinations to lower the chances of getting and spreading disease. Many vaccine-preventable diseases that have become rare in the U.S., such as measles and polio, are still common in other parts of the world.
No matter where you plan to go, check which vaccines are recommended to lower the chances of becoming ill. Speak to your doctor about your travel plans. An excellent and thorough site for information is The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Silberman and his wife, Barbara, traveled to a very clean country in Europe several years ago. Neither of them thought it was necessary to get a vaccine for that country. However, upon returning and seeing their internist, she told them that polio has been a problem in that country and that they must check no matter where they go in the future. Fortunately, both have been well, however, neither will travel in the future without checking about necessary vaccines.
Certain activities, such as attending crowded events, can increase the spread of infectious disease. The vaccinations you need depends on your travel destination, age, current medical condition, your vaccine history, your occupation, and lifestyle.
It is also important to be up to date with routine vaccines before you leave the country.
Another resource for information about vaccinations when traveling abroad is The National Foundation for Infectious Disease.
At The Silberman Dental Group, we truly care about our patients. Share this blog with your family and friends who are making travel plans this summer. They’ll thank you for it!
