Be sure to get your shots before heading abroad

Individuals headed to the Beijing Olympics and other international destinations should get their jabs in early.

Though the risk of contracting a serious disease is slight, hepatitis A and B and measles are problematic and malaria is a present in some rural areas of China.

Dr. Doug Hardy, an infectious-disease specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center Dallas, says people headed overseas are more likely to develop traveler’s diarrhea than a serious disease but it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

“More than 3 million people are expected to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games from all over the world, including some from areas without access to all the preventative vaccines available in the United States,” Dr. Hardy says. “It’s important to make sure you’re up-to-date on all routine and travel-related vaccines before departing for China or any other international destination.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travelers headed to developing countries be vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. The CDC also recommends that individuals visiting certain destinations be vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal meningitis, rabies and yellow fever.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/infectiousdiseases to learn more about clinical services in infectious diseases at UT Southwestern.

Media Contact: Kristen Holland Shear

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