Heading overseas - any extra vaccines?

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FedRetired50

Recycles dryer sheets
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I'm getting my flu and covid shots updated, any others I should ask for, with a planned trip to Greece in October?
 
Sounds good to me. I'm headed to Scandinavia Monday and am trying to find a COVID booster (haven't had one for 2 years) and both CVS and Costco offered appointments on their web site and when I got there the pharmacists said they had none and were waiting for the new vaccine. A FB ad from CVS said they had them. I'm driving over tomorrow. Not great timing but I hope I can get one.
 
I was at CVS the other day and they were telling me there is a new Pneumonia vaccine . Supposedly for new strains , even though I had the original . This is only one shot . Anyone know anything about this .
 
Breedlove said:
I was at CVS the other day and they were telling me there is a new Pneumonia vaccine . Supposedly for new strains , even though I had the original . This is only one shot . Anyone know anything about this .
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Pneumococcal polysaccharide 23-valent is the last one that we had. One shot.
 
Last year we got vaccinated for RSV as well as flu and Covid. I think all three are recommended for over 65 but YMMV.
 
We have been to Greece and Turkey multiple times. No specific vaccinations were ever required. Always subject to change though.
 
You do have to watch as things can change. For example we were advised at the last minute that Kenya required Yellow Fever vaccinations. Those are not a common thing in our market so we had some last-minute chasing around to do just to find someone who had the vaccine. Got to the Immigration/Customs entry point and nobody even asked about vaccinations. But you can't count on being lucky.
 
OldShooter said:
You do have to watch as things can change. For example we were advised at the last minute that Kenya required Yellow Fever vaccinations. Those are not a common thing in our market so we had some last-minute chasing around to do just to find someone who had the vaccine. Got to the Immigration/Customs entry point and nobody even asked about vaccinations. But you can't count on being lucky.
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This happened to us in South Africa. No one seemed to care when we entered the county. Had the full complement of shots. Do not regret doing so.

When we flew to Portugal post covid we were required to have proof of covid shots PLUS proof of a covid test done within 24 hours of boarding the plane for Portugal. TAP personnel checked our vaccinations but did not ask for proof of a covid test. Ditto for arrival in Lisbon.
 
Koolau said:
Last year we got vaccinated for RSV as well as flu and Covid. I think all three are recommended for over 65 but YMMV.
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They've revised the RSV vaccine recommendations to 75 and older or 60-75 with certain conditions. Everyone should get annual flu vaccines and Covid vaccines unless contraindicated.

Also, regarding pneumococcal vaccines, Prevnar-20 is recommended over Pneuovax-23. It is a conjugate vaccine which boosts immunity and lasts longer. Pneumovax should be given every 5 years. It's not a one and done.
 
OldShooter said:
You do have to watch as things can change. For example we were advised at the last minute that Kenya required Yellow Fever vaccinations. Those are not a common thing in our market so we had some last-minute chasing around to do just to find someone who had the vaccine. Got to the Immigration/Customs entry point and nobody even asked about vaccinations. But you can't count on being lucky.
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Yellow fever vaccination is usually required based on where you have been. It is generally not recommended for people over 60. I have inquired about this to the APNP we are getting advice from for travel. She said no problem prescribing it to us for Africa travel but that could be for general good health.
 
There's a difference between what vaccines you need for entry and what you should get.

When I was travelling globally for work, especially to some third world places, my PCP set me up with a 'travel doc' who provided me with about 8 different vaccines (sorry, can't remember a single one) based upon where I might be headed.

If you're going to be basically in European countries you're likely ok but if venturing to more exotic locales it might pay to look beyond what is required and what you might want to protect yourself from.
 
Remember, the requirements of the country you are visiting are to protect their citizens from you. Your concern should be how to protect yourself. I suggest you contact a travel physician/APNP. A consultation is not expensive and will include a lot of practical advice beyond just vaccine recommendations.

For example, she can help you think about an exit plan if you do get sick. In some parts of the world the worst thing that can happen if you get sick or injured is to be taken to a hospital! You should have a plan to get out ASAP to a country with good healthcare.
 
SecondAttempt said:
Remember, the requirements of the country you are visiting are to protect their citizens from you. Your concern should be how to protect yourself. I suggest you contact a travel physician/APNP. A consultation is not expensive and will include a lot of practical advice beyond just vaccine recommendations.

For example, she can help you think about an exit plan if you do get sick. In some parts of the world the worst thing that can happen if you get sick or injured is to be taken to a hospital! You should have a plan to get out ASAP to a country with good healthcare.
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+100. Spent a lot of time in third world countries. My boss hurt his back in--of all places--Tokyo. They brought him to a hospital. For reasons unknown, they gave him a spinal. He was never was never able to walk again. Even in sophisticated countries like Japan, hospital care can be very iffy. I lived there and had heard horror stories.

My company had a rule: unless it's something very minor, get back to the US.
 
SecondAttempt said:
Remember, the requirements of the country you are visiting are to protect their citizens from you. Your concern should be how to protect yourself. I suggest you contact a travel physician/APNP. A consultation is not expensive and will include a lot of practical advice beyond just vaccine recommendations.

For example, she can help you think about an exit plan if you do get sick. In some parts of the world the worst thing that can happen if you get sick or injured is to be taken to a hospital! You should have a plan to get out ASAP to a country with good healthcare.
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For this trip I have an Allianz plan that includes emergency evac, so I should be able to rely on their medical staff to determine where I'm going. For future trips I'll have the Chase Sapphire, so ditto.
 
Years ago, when we first went to Cuba, my MD at the time strongly recommended Twinrix hepA and hep B. Not just for Cuba, but for any travel. I followed that advice. DW was already vacinated...basic requirement in a hospital setting. This, plus tetanus jabs.

When we started to travel more we used a travel clinic. We had very good advice for Africa. Had the jabs. And some pills as I remember. No issue. We were supposed to have proof when we entered one or two countries. Not once were we asked for our vac. record.
 
EastWest Gal said:
They've revised the RSV vaccine recommendations to 75 and older or 60-75 with certain conditions. Everyone should get annual flu vaccines and Covid vaccines unless contraindicated.
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Have they decided if RSV is an annual or every other year vaccine yet? I read the CDC was supposed to announce in June, but cannot find anything definative.
 
About 15 years ago I attended an international event in the US that had participants from over 100 countries, about half were high school age students. I had a scheduled vacation to Tahiti a couple of weeks later. I received a call shortly after returning from a US health department in the state where the event was held informing me I was likely exposed to measles.

They asked about my vaccination status and I told them I did not know (which was true at the time but I realized later I got an MMR booster only 2 years prior for teaching at a university). They said I should not travel and my exposure would be reported to US health departments in all states and to the WHO.

When I arrived in Tahiti I was pretty paranoid but they did not stop me so all was good. I suppose some might call me out for being reckless but I had no symptoms and my travel was to a European country with strong childhood vaccination.

When we traveled to Tahiti in 2022 there were still a lot of covid restrictions in place. We had to sign an affidavit before boarding the plane and promise to show proof of vaccination on arrival. When we got there the customs agent laughed at us when we showed our vax records. So maybe it's a Tahiti thing...
 
When I was working, before travelling to India I always visited the travel clinic associated with the clinic where my PCP works. I'd get whatever vaccines were indicated at the time. But the best thing I ever got was an emergency antibiotic supply for "Delhi Belly". On my very first visit there, it hit me on the same day as my return flight. The antibiotics knocked it out of my system very quickly. It never happened again but I always had a supply handy.

Incidentally, at least where I live, you're restricted from donating blood for a year after a visit to India.

Cheers.
 
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