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Immunizing Children for International Travel
Exploring the World Safely with Your Children
By Johnathon Allen
Dr. Chapnick explains that, though infants under 2 weeks of age should not undertake air travel, there are no areas in the world where parents can't take their children. One of the primary limiting factors is the minimum age at which a child can adequately respond to the vaccines necessary for a particular region.
Dr. Chapnick recommends that children be up to date, or accelerated, on all standard immunizations prior to international travel, with additional immunizations considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the age of the child and the parent's intended destinations.
"Vaccine efficacy is dependent on the type of immunization," Dr. Chapnick says. "For example, oral typhoid vaccine is practical only for children age 6 years and over, but the injectable version can be effective as early as 6 months. The yellow fever vaccine on the other hand, a requirement for travel in some countries in South America and eastern Europe, is only effective in children over 9 months of age."
Ideally, vaccinations should be given by the child's pediatrician and/or by a travel medicine facility at least four weeks prior to travel but, according to Dr. Chapnick, "in an urgent situation, two weeks is probably adequate for the vaccine to take effect."
The Center for Disease Control suggests that the following immunizations normally given during childhood should be up to date for children over 2 years of age before traveling internationally:
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP)
- Polio
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Varicella vaccine