Vaccines411 Travel Brochure

WHAT TRAVEL VACCINES DO YOU NEED TODAY?

If you are planning to travel outside of Canada, you may be exposed to different health risks than you are at home. Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases that are very rare here may be common in other countries. That’s why it is important that you are up-to-date with both routine and travel vaccinations.

Travel health recommendations differ for each individual and depend on your health and immunization status, destination(s), type of travel, planned activities, and length of stay. Consult a healthcare provider or visit a travel health clinic, at least four to six weeks before you travel, and be sure you are aware of infectious disease risks and vaccine requirements for your destination.¹

COVID-19¹¹

• I have not received a 1- or 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine.
• I am pregnant or breastfeeding.
• I have an autoimmune disorder.
• I am immunocompromised due to disease or treatment.
• I am over age 18, it is 6 months since my last dose of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, and I have not had a booster dose.
• I am moderately to severely immunocompromised, it has been at least 28 days after the second dose, and I have not received the recommended additional dose.

CHOLERA / TRAVELLERS’ DIARRHEA^1,2,12,13

• I am travelling to a rural or high-risk location / place with inadequate sanitary facilities.
• I will be working with / have close contact with the local population.
• I may be at increased risk of severe consequences due to health- or age-related factors.
• I cannot afford a brief illness while I travel.

HEPATITIS A / HEPATITIS B (INDIVIDUAL OR COMBINED VACCINES)^1-3

• I have not been previously vaccinated against Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B.
• I am travelling to a rural location / place with inadequate sanitary facilities.
• I am travelling to my country of origin to visit friends and relatives.
• I will be working with / have close contact with the local population.
• I may have health / lifestyle risks (eg, new sexual partners / use of street drugs).

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)⁴

• I am a female between the ages of 9 and 45, with or without a history of abnormal Pap tests, genital warts, or HPV infection.
• I am a male between the ages of 9 and 26, with or without a history of genital warts, or HPV infection.

INFLUENZA^1,5

• I have not had my seasonal flu shot¹ and I am over 6 months of age.
• I may be at increased risk of severe consequences due to health- or age-related factors; children, pregnant women, persons over 65, and those with immunosuppression are at greatest risk of complications.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS¹

• I am travelling to rural areas of Southeast Asia.
• I will be participating in outdoor activities like hiking, camping and swimming.

MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE¹

• I am travelling to Africa / Saudi Arabia and may require proof of vaccination.
• I have not been vaccinated against all 4 or 5 main strains of meningococcal bacteria (A,C,W,Y or A,C,W,Y, & B).

MEASLES-MUMPS-RUBELLA / VARICELLA VACCINE (MMR / MMRV)^1,12,13

• I am travelling outside of Canada.
• I will be at events / attractions that draw a large crowd.

PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION^4,5

• I am age 65 or older, and:
  • I have never had a pneumococcal shot, or
  • it has been 5 years or more since the last shot.
• I am younger than age 65, I have not had a pneumococcal shot, and may be at increased risk because:
  • I live in a long term care facility.
  • I smoke cigarettes.
  • I have heart, lung (including asthma), liver, or kidney disease.
  • I have diabetes.
  • I have alcoholism.
  • I have a medical condition that affects my immune system (eg, HIV) or requires immune suppressing treatment.

POLIOMYELITIS¹

• I have never been vaccinated against polio.
• I was previously vaccinated but am travelling to a high-risk area and may benefit from a single lifetime booster shot.

PPD (MANTOUX TEST) / TUBERCULOSIS¹

• I have never been vaccinated against tuberculosis.
• I am travelling to an area where this infection is endemic.
• I will be working with / have close contact with the local population.

RABIES¹

• I am travelling with a child who may need to be vaccinated.
• I am planning a long stay in an area where rabies is common and access to post-exposure management is unknown.

SHINGLES (ZOSTER) VACCINATION²

• I am an adult age 50 or older and haven't had a shingles shot.

TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA, AND PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH) CONTAINING VACCINATION (TD & TDAP)²

• I have not had or am not aware of having a vaccine containing tetanus or pertussis (Tdap) as an adolescent or adult.
• It has been 10 years or more since I received any tetanus and diphtheria-containing shots.
• I am in contact with infants and want to reduce the risk of transmitting pertussis to those who are too young to be fully protected.

TYPHOID^1,12,13

• I am travelling to a rural or high-risk location / place with inadequate sanitary facilities.
• I am planning a long stay in an area of Asia / Africa where this infection is common.
• I am travelling to my country of origin to visit friends and relatives.
• I am travelling with a child who may need to be vaccinated.

YELLOW FEVER¹⁰

• I am travelling to South America / Africa and may require proof of vaccination.
• I am travelling to a tropical destination during or following the rainy season.
• I will be participating in outdoor activities like hiking, camping and swimming.

PERSONAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES⁵

Preventive measures can help you avoid food / water-borne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A; insect-transmitted viruses including malaria, Zika, dengue, Chikungunya, Avian influenza, Japanese encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis; and water / soil-borne parasitic infections.

BE AWARE - EAT, DRINK & PLAY WITH CARE!⁵

GUARD AGAINST INSECT BITES⁵

• Keep your skin fully covered - wear light-coloured, loose-fitting, tucked-in clothing, shoes (not sandals), and a hat.
• Apply an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin (also known as Picaridin) to exposed skin, according to product directions.
• Sleep under a bed net, preferably treated with insecticide.

"CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL AT LEAST
4 TO 6 WEEKS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
TO UNDERSTAND YOUR VACCINATION NEEDS"

Find a vaccinating clinic offering travel vaccines

Visit our travel resources page for more information.

References:

1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 3 - Vaccination of Specific Populations. Updated 2016-09.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Statement on New Oral Cholera and Travellers’ Diarrhea Vaccination. Updated 07-2005.
3. Public Health Agency of Canada. Summary of the Statement on International Travellers Who Intend to Visit Friends and Relatives. Updated 2015-05.
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Well on Your Way - A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad. Updated 2020-02.
5. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 - Active Vaccines: Human Papillomavirus Vaccine. Updated 2017-05.
6. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 - Active Vaccines: Meningococcal Vaccine. Updated 2020-02.
7. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 - Active Vaccines: Hepatitis B Vaccine. Updated 2017-03.
8. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 - Active Vaccines: Pneumococcal Vaccine. Updated 2016-10.
9. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 3 - Vaccination of Specific Populations: Immunization of Adults. Updated 2015-07.
10. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 - Active Vaccines: Yellow Fever Vaccine. Updated 2016-11.
11. Public Health Agency of Canada. Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated. Updated 2022-02.
12. Public Health Agency of Canada. Travel Health Notices. Updated 2022-02.
13. World Health Organization. Statement of the Thirtieth Polio IHR Emergency Committee. Updated 2021-11.