How to Conquer Travel Vaccinations

travel vaccinations
Photo by CC user Global Panorama on Flickr

Nobody likes getting shots, but when planning a trip aboard, you may find yourself gearing up for a few travel vaccinations. These pesky little shots are often times necessary to even enter a country, though there are others that are given on a advised basis, meaning they’re for extra protection and not required. If you’re unsure about whether or not you need any vaccinations, you’ll first want to check the medical requirement list for your country of choice. But even if you haven’t done that yet, take a look at the information provided below, where you’ll find some vaccination answers before you even ask the question.

What are travel vaccinations

Travel vaccinations are, simply put, vaccinations that protect you against diseases found in other countries that you may have had no prior exposure to within your own country. Some of these vaccinations you may have already received as a child, while others might be completely foreign to you.

In addition, you’ll also find that some of the shots given are not a necessity but rather a precaution. If you’re planning on traveling into an area where disease is more easily spread or plan on drinking local water, you may want to get one or more of the advised vaccines in order to help safeguard yourself from the possibility of becoming ill during your travels. Other vaccines are 100% necessary and required before entry into the selected country.

Where to go to get your travel vaccinations

More often than not, you’ll find yourself making a trip to your primary physicians office to receive your vaccines. Generally speaking, unless you’re new to the area, your doctor will have all of your medical records on file, making it easier to determine which vaccines you are in need of and which ones you’ve already received in the past. If you don’t have a doctor that you see on a regular basis, there may be a clinic in the area that dispenses vaccines, though these may be more difficult to find.

It is very important to note that most people visit their doctor about 4 to 6 weeks before their trip departure day as most vaccines have either an incubation period that must be observed before travel or the need for one or more boosters.

Saving money for travel vaccinations

Depending on what type of insurance policy you have in place, you may find that your medical insurance pays little to nothing when it comes to travel vaccines. This is generally because it’s more of a recreational shot rather than one you would need to live and thrive in your own country. Because a vaccine can get a bit pricey, you’ll want to take a few simple steps to help save beforehand, making it so that you’re not financially strapped during your dream vacation.

Some great tips to follow are to take a break from getting your morning Starbucks, to skip on buying that purse and to open up a separate savings account specifically designed for traveling. Any of these tips will easily help you pay for your vaccines as well as maybe add a little extra money in your pocket for fun activities during your trip.

It’s rare to find a person who enjoys going to the doctor, especially if the visit calls for a shot or two. Though you may not enjoy the experience, when traveling to certain parts of the world, it’s often one of the first steps you’ll need to take in your planning stage.