What vaccines are required for travel outside of the US?

[StephandOwen]

DP is most likely going to China late spring/early summer. There's also a chance he'll go to Mexico and/or Europe late this year and early next year. What vaccines are going to be required? Which are optional? Which are necessary, which are not? Need to start researching this so we can space out any vaccines he does need.

Thanks!

[Mirzam]

No vaccinations are required for travel to China. The CDC does have recommended vaccines, but whether you get them on not depends on how you feel about vaccination and the CDC's recommendations.

I have traveled to China several times without getting any vaccinations I view none as necessary.

[luv-my-boys]

As far as I know there are no *required* vaccinations for travel. I would however look over the CDC website and print out the specific regional information to go over with a medical personnel/nurse. It may be handy to have some rx medications on hand *in case* you fall ill to something specific to that area especially if medical resources might be sketchy for that area. I did read a few yrs back that there are some countries (sorry I cant remember which ones but pretty sure it wasnt china) that may exclude your entry *if* there was a outbreak of a certain disease and you were unvaccinated in the hopes of not spreading it furthur. I do believe it was for very serious pandemic type circumstances. Check the state dept website/CDC often as they update information regarding travel frequently. Also be aware that some vaccinations may require several series or must be given prior to a set time period to ensure immunity. Safe and fun travels

[alegna]

None will be required for those destinations.

-Angela

[StephandOwen]

Thanks!

I have a different look on vaccines than my dp does. I have not had any vaccinations since my parents were in charge of my medical care. My ds has a religious exemption.

DP had all vaccines up until adult-hood and no boosters since then. He (and his whole family) are very "medicalized" (and, yes, I made up a word!). When I met him he was very much into a drug for every sniffle and sneeze, rush to the dr at the first sign of a cold, do whatever the dr tells you, and believe everything he says, without questioning it. And then I came along and shook up his whole world He freaked out the first time ds had a fever and I didn't reach for tylenol. It's been a lot of hard work but I think he now realizes my way isn't so bad I've even convinced him he doesn't HAVE to take every drug the dr suggests (though he usually still fills the prescriptions LOL!).

He's open to listening to my opinions on which vaccines he needs and which he doesn't but I don't want to just tell him "no vaccines necessary" without actually doing the research.

[Moonglow Girl]

Fwiw, there are very few countries in the world that require any type of vax.

And those few that do (i.e. yellow fever vax) usually require them only of people arriving from areas where that disease is endemic. So unless you were travelling direct from a yellow fever endemic country, you still wouldn't "need" the vax.

I lived in China. Plenty of Westerners are living there unvaxed with unvaxed kids. Your DH will be fine. And by not loading up on a bunch of exotic travel vaxes before his departure, he'll have a much better chance of enjoying his time overseas. It always seemed to me that the sickest people were the ones who'd had every exotic travel vax before coming over.

Have your DH build a strong intestinal flora with probiotics before and during his travels and practice good water and food hygeine while he's there and he should be fine. No vaxes necessary.