There are families who decide to spend vacations outside our country. Whether to visit friends or family, live new experiences, or meet other cultures and treasure memories, many parents are encouraged to travel with their children from an early age to international destinations.
But the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) recalls the importance of having children properly vaccinated before embarking on an international trip. Therefore, today we want to review the vaccines your child should have to travel to certain countries.
I will travel with my son to an international destination, what should I keep in mind?
According to the World Tourism Organization, 7% of international travelers are children, so it is important to protect them against certain infectious diseases through proper vaccination. The CAV-AEP recommends going to the pediatrician and an International Vaccination Center between one and two months before the trip, to receive all the information.
Depending on the country you are going to travel toThey will explain to you what vaccines the child should receive according to the risk of tropical disease, epidemics of certain diseases (an example is what is currently happening in some European countries with measles), or if a specific vaccine is required.
Since the child under 18 months has not yet completed his vaccination schedule and some of the vaccines outside it cannot be administered safely, it is recommended that children under two years of age do not travel to countries at risk of tropical diseases.There are certain factors that increase the risk of contracting diseases when children travel:
- Long stays
- Be under five years old.
- Children traveling to certain countries to visit relatives, as they mix with the native population without presenting immunity against endemic diseases in the area.
- Disease of basic diseases, immunosuppression, allergies ...
Vaccines of the traveling child
In addition to completing the official vaccine schedule with the doses that may be missing depending on the child's age, the CAV-AEP advises receive the following vaccinations before the trip Depending on the country to be visited:
Measles and chickenpox: if you travel to countries affected by outbreaks
If the child were to travel to a country where a disease that has not yet been vaccinated, such as measles or chickenpox, is endemic, the vaccine will be advanced, whenever possible.
In Babies and more What you should know about vaccination if you travel with your baby to European countries affected by the measles outbreak Yellow fever: if you travel to Equatorial Africa and South America
Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes. This disease occurs in countries in Equatorial Africa and South America, so vaccination of the child is recommended for protection, from nine months.
This vaccine is contraindicated in children with severe egg allergy, immunosuppressed and children with HIV. Nor can it be given with the triple viral vaccine.
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
ACWY meningitis: if you travel to African belt countries
This vaccine protects against pneumococcal serotypes A, C, W-135 and Y. Health has announced that the tetravalent vaccine will be incorporated throughout 2020 in the official calendar, although some autonomous communities have advanced and are already vaccinating to the kids.
In Babies and moreMeningitis in infants and children: what are the warning symptoms and how to prevent itAlthough the risk of meningococcal disease is excellent (0.1-0.3 / 100,000 people and month of stay), vaccination is recommended in case of traveling to countries of the African belt where the disease has the highest incidence (see here the list of countries).
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
Cholera: if you travel to endemic and epidemic areas
Colera is a very virulent infectious disease caused by bacteria, which has severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can cause death. The most common form of infection is through the consumption of contaminated food and water.
Although the risk of illness for the traveling child is very low (incidence less than 1 / 100,000), it could indicate the vaccine after two years if traveling to epidemic or high endemic areas, or extended stays in rural areas of affected countries.
To learn more about this vaccine, its administration guidelines and the countries with the highest risk, consult this WHO link or this document of the CAV-AEP.
Typhoid fever: if you travel to North and West Africa, South Asia, Indonesia and Peru
Typhoid fever is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, and It constitutes a serious threat to children's health. Therefore, and despite the vaccine, extreme precautions are recommended with the consumption of water and food from countries at risk, which are North and West Africa, South Asia, Indonesia and Peru.
The vaccine is oral and recommended after three years.
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP
Central European encephalitis: if you travel to central and northeastern Europe, Russia, eastern China and Japan
Central European encephalitis is a viral infection that is transmitted by the bite of a tick, being the months between April and August those with the highest risk. This disease occurs especially in countries of central and northeastern Europe, Russia and even in areas of eastern China and Japan.
In Babies and more Holidays with children: five magical routes in Europe to do by car or motorhomeThe Central European encephalitis vaccine is included in the official calendars of countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic and some territories in Finland and Latvia. So if you are going to travel to forested areas or stay in campsites in countries at risk, it is advisable to get vaccinated.
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
Japanese encephalitis: if you travel to Southeast Asia and West Pacific
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease. The risk of contracting the disease is low, but it is increased with prolonged stays and accommodation in rural areas.
It is indicated if you are going to travel to Southeast Asia or the West Pacific (see here the countries with the highest risk), and you can get after two months of the baby.
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
Hepatitis A: if you travel to Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by consuming contaminated food or drinks. This vaccine is necessary to travel to all countries that are not in Western Europe, the area of Japan, Korea, Australia and the US. (You can check here the countries with the highest risk).
The vaccine can be administered after 12 months, and consists of two doses. Between two and four weeks after the administration of the first dose, 95% of the children are protected, and with the administration of the two doses the protection lasts almost a lifetime.
You have all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
Rabies: if you travel to Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and countries of Central and South America
Rabies is a viral and deadly disease that affects the central nervous system. It is transmitted through the bite of potentially rabid mammals, like dogs, cats, bats, raccoons, monkeys ... The majority of rabies deaths are of children under 15 years.
The vaccine is indicated after two years, especially for those children who are going to stay in rural settings of countries at risk (you can check here). In addition, it is very important to warn our children that they should avoid all contact with homeless animals.
You can consult all the information about this vaccine in this WHO document updated in 2018.
Flu: whatever your destiny
The CAV-AEP recommends this vaccine to both travelers and local residents during the flu season, with a special risk for those children traveling to the opposite hemisphere, especially if they have not created any immunity after regular vaccination.
In Babies and more Influenza in infants and children: everything you need to know to prevent and treat itThe vaccine can be administered intramuscularly. from six months, or intransal after two years. You can consult all the necessary information in this document of the CAV-AEP.
Other important considerations to consider
But in addition to these specific vaccines, the CAV-AEP recommends taking into account other important considerations before traveling with children and adolescents:
- There is typical diseases of certain countries for which there are no vaccines. Such is the case of the Zika virus, chikungunya, bird flu, the Middle East respiratory syndrome, the Ebola virus ...
In Babies and more What is the Zika virus and what dangers does it pose for pregnant women?It is important to prevent insect bites in children when we travel to certain countries (by using repellents, mosquito nets, clothes ...)
In addition to adolescents' own vaccines and traveler-specific vaccines, adolescents must take the necessary measures to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as avoid other practices that favor the risk of diseases through the blood, such as get tattoos or piercings.
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