Vaccinations for your holiday
When planning a holiday, it's important to familiarise yourself with the diseases that are prevalent in the country/area you want to travel to. Fortunately, you can easily protect yourself and your loved ones against many of the serious diseases that can be contracted abroad by getting the right vaccinations.
The diseases that occur in different countries are different and therefore not all travellers are recommended to get the same vaccinations.
However, there is one exception to this and that is the Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccination - everyone should have this vaccination, regardless of their destination.
Diphtheria and Tetanus are two different, serious diseases that occur all over the world. In Denmark, vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is part of the childhood vaccination programme. Once vaccinated, you are protected against the disease for 10 years, which means that everyone should get a new vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus at least every 10 years.
Another disease that also occurs in many parts of the world is Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause severe liver inflammation. The virus is transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of the disease is therefore highest in areas where there are poor hygienic conditions. In general, vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended for all holidays outside Northern, Western and Southern Europe, Australia and North America.
Due to the way Hepatitis A is transmitted, it is a good idea to take certain precautions when travelling outside these areas. In addition to vaccination, you should avoid eating raw vegetables and only drink water from closed bottles or boiled water.
There are also other viruses that can cause liver inflammation, including Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is transmitted through sexual contact and blood contact. You can also be infected with Hepatitis B if you are a drug addict and share needles with others. In general, vaccination against Hepatitis B is recommended if you plan to get a tattoo abroad or if you expect to have sex with a person from that country.
Other diseases that occur in certain countries and can be vaccinated against include: Yellow Fever, Rabies, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, TBE, Japanese encephalitis and Meningitis.
Malaria occurs in certain countries in South and Central America, Africa and Asia. Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites. There is not yet a commercial vaccine against malaria, but you can protect yourself by sleeping under a mosquito net and using mosquito repellent. In addition, it is recommended to take malaria preventive medicine if you are travelling to a country where malaria is present.
Africa
All travellers to Africa should make sure they are vaccinated against Diphtheria Tetanus and Hepatitis A before departure. The Diphtheria Tetanus vaccination must be renewed every 10 years to ensure you are protected against the disease.
Other vaccinations for Africa depend on which country you're visiting, how long you'll be away and what activities you plan to do while travelling.
Tanzania
Malaria occurs in Tanzania all year round in areas below 1800 metres altitude. Therefore, you should make sure to protect yourself from mosquito bites. This can be done by sleeping under a mosquito net. The mosquitoes that transmit Malaria most often bite at sunrise and sunset - at these times, it is therefore important to be extra vigilant to avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers or by using mosquito repellent. In addition to the above, it is recommended to take malaria-preventing medication before travelling to Tanzania.
Vaccination against Yellow Fever is generally not recommended for travellers to Tanzania. However, there are some people who should be vaccinated against Yellow Fever before travelling to Tanzania. It is up to the doctor's judgement which people should be offered vaccination.
Morocco
There is no malaria or yellow fever in Morocco, which is why vaccination against yellow fever or malaria pills against malaria is not recommended. You only need additional vaccinations, in addition to Diphtheria Tetanus and Hepatitis A, if you are travelling to Morocco for a longer period of time or have special activities planned.
Long holidays or special activities in Africa
If you will be in Tanzania or Morocco for more than 4 weeks, you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B in addition to the above. And if your holiday lasts more than 6 months, you should also be vaccinated against Typhoid.
In some cases, vaccination against Hepatitis B or Typhoid is recommended even if the trip is shorter than the above. For example, if you will be in close contact with the local population or if you plan to get a tattoo during your holiday. You should always ask your doctor for advice before travelling.
If you expect to come into close contact with wild animals while travelling in Tanzania or Morocco, you should also be vaccinated against rabies.
Asia
Anyone planning to travel to Asia (regardless of destination) should have valid vaccinations against Diphtheria Tetanus and Hepatitis A before travelling.
Other vaccinations depend on where in Asia you are travelling to, the duration of your trip and the activities you have planned.
Malaria
In Thailand, there is a year-round risk of malaria in the forest areas bordering Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. There is also a risk of Malaria in the forested areas of Phuket and Phang Nga. Therefore, it is recommended to take malaria prevention medication if you are travelling in any of the above areas. In addition to medication, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites - for example by using mosquito spray and sleeping under a mosquito net.
As a general rule, there is no risk of malaria in the major cities in Thailand, such as Bangkok.
In Nepal, there is a risk of Malaria all year round in areas lower than 2000 metres altitude. In these areas, malaria prevention medication and protection against mosquito bites is recommended. Usually, the risk of Malaria is low on typical Himalayan treks.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended if travelling to Thailand or Nepal for more than 4 weeks.
There are certain situations where you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B even if the trip is shorter than 4 weeks. This applies if you are visiting family living in Thailand or Nepal, if you plan to have sex with a local person or if you are getting a tattoo while on holiday.
Typhoid fever
You should be vaccinated against Typhoid if you will be in Nepal for more than 1 week. In Thailand, typhoid vaccination is only recommended if travelling for longer than 6 months.
In addition, regardless of the length of the trip, you should be vaccinated against Typhoid if you will be visiting family in Thailand or Nepal, be in close contact with the local population or if you will be living in poor hygienic conditions.
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is a serious virus that is transmitted through mosquito bites. The disease occurs in Nepal and Thailand during the months of April to October. Therefore, vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is recommended if travelling during this period for more than 1 month.
As the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, it is important to protect yourself against mosquitoes, especially if you are not vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis due to a short travel period.
Central and South America
There is a slight difference in vaccination recommendations depending on whether you are travelling to Cuba or Tobago. All travellers to Central and South America (regardless of which country you are visiting) are recommended to be vaccinated against Diphtheria Tetanus and Hepatitis A.
Other vaccinations depend on which of the two countries you are travelling to and what activities you plan to do on your holiday.
Cuba
If you're travelling to Cuba, you don't need any additional vaccinations if you're planning an ‘ordinary relaxing holiday’ with your family or girlfriend.
However, if you plan to visit family living in Cuba, be in close contact with the local population or live in poor hygienic conditions, you should be vaccinated against Typhoid. You should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if you are visiting family, expect to have sex with someone from Cuba or are planning to get a tattoo.
Finally, a rabies vaccination is recommended if you expect to come into close contact with wild animals in Cuba.
Tobago
There is a risk of Yellow Fever in Tobago, so in addition to the Diphtheria Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccinations, it is recommended that you are vaccinated against Yellow Fever. You must be vaccinated against Yellow Fever at least 10 days before travelling to Tobago.
Yellow Fever is a virus that can cause severe illness in humans, which in the worst case can be fatal. The virus infects humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes that transmit Yellow Fever usually bite during the day (unlike mosquitoes that transmit Malaria, which often bite at sunrise and sunset). Even if you've been vaccinated against Yellow Fever, you still need to protect yourself from mosquito bites. You can protect yourself by sleeping under a mosquito net and using mosquito repellents on your skin - diethyltoluamide (DEET) or similar products.
In addition, the same rules apply to Tobago as to Cuba regarding activities during your holiday. If you belong to one or more of the above ‘risk groups’ in terms of behaviour/activities, you should be vaccinated against Typhoid and Hepatitis B respectively. There is generally no risk of rabies in Tobago.
Europe
Most places in Europe have the same infectious diseases as in Denmark. Therefore, there is usually no need to be aware of special vaccinations when travelling around Europe.
Like in Denmark, diphtheria and tetanus also occur in the rest of Europe. Therefore, you should always make sure that you are adequately vaccinated. A vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is valid for at least 10 years, which is why it is recommended to get a new vaccination every 10 years.
If you are planning to get a tattoo or have sex with someone from the European country you are visiting, it is a good idea to get vaccinated against Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B virus can potentially cause severe liver disease. The disease is transmitted through blood or sexual contact. It is important to use a condom during sexual intercourse even if you have been vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
Usually, the Hepatitis B vaccination is given in three rounds. Once you have received all three injections, it is expected that you are protected against the disease for life. If you wish to receive the Hepatitis A vaccination as well, it can be given in a single injection together with the Hepatitis B vaccination.
Eastern Europe
The above recommendations apply to Northern, Western and Southern Europe (and Iceland). If travelling to Eastern Europe, slightly different recommendations apply.
If you're travelling in Eastern Europe, you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis A in addition to Diphtheria and Tetanus. In Poland and Hungary, vaccination against Hepatitis A is only recommended if the trip lasts more than 1 week.
In addition, regardless of the activities you plan, you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if your trip is longer than 4 weeks. You should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if you are visiting family in Eastern Europe.
If you plan to be in close contact with the local population in Eastern Europe, it is recommended that you are vaccinated against Tuberculosis.
In addition, TBE (also known as Central European encephalitis) can be contracted in Eastern Europe. TBE is a virus that is transmitted by a tick bite. If you go out into nature where there is a risk of being bitten by ticks, TBE vaccination is recommended.
Finally, if you expect to be in close contact with wild animals or if you are travelling to Eastern Europe, you should be vaccinated against rabies.
The Middle East
If you are travelling to the Middle East, you should ensure that you have a valid vaccination against Diphtheria Tetanus, just like when travelling anywhere else in the world. If you have been vaccinated within the last 10 years, you do.
If you are travelling to Egypt or Jordan, you should also have a vaccination against Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a virus that is primarily transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract. The risk of infection is therefore greatest in poor hygienic conditions. It is therefore a good idea to take certain hygienic precautions if travelling to Jordan or Egypt. For example, you should only drink bottled water and avoid eating unprepared foods such as raw vegetables.
Additional vaccinations for Jordan and Egypt depend on the length of your holiday and what you plan to do on your holiday.
If you're going for more than 4 weeks, you'll need a Hepatitis B vaccination, and if you'll be away for 6 months or more, an additional Typhoid vaccination.
Family visits or close contact with locals
If you are travelling to Jordan or Egypt to visit family living in the country, you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Typhoid regardless of the length of your trip.
Typhoid should also be vaccinated against if you plan to be in close contact with the local population in general. Typhoid is generally most contagious in poor hygienic conditions, which is why you should be vaccinated if you plan to stay in such conditions in general.
If you're travelling to Egypt, it's also recommended to be vaccinated against Tuberculosis in case of close contact with the local population. You should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis B if you're considering getting a tattoo or possibly having sex with locals in Jordan or Egypt.
Close contact with wild animals
If you are stationed abroad for a long period of time or otherwise spend a lot of time in nature and are therefore at risk of coming into close contact with wild animals, a vaccination against rabies is recommended.
Oceania
When travelling to Oceania, there are a number of infectious diseases that you should be aware of and protect yourself against. However, the recommended vaccinations depend on which countries you're visiting.
Australia
In general, the same infectious diseases are found in Australia as in Denmark. Therefore, you don't need any special vaccinations to travel to Australia.
Of course, you should make sure that you have a current vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus. This vaccination is required every 10 years to be protected against the disease.
Other vaccinations for Australia are only necessary if you are planning special activities while travelling. For example, if you're going to get a tattoo or have sex with an Australian, you should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Even if you are vaccinated against Hepatitis B, you should still use a condom during sexual intercourse.
Malaysia and Indonesia
All travellers to Malaysia and Indonesia should be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. In addition, there is a year-round risk of Malaria in Malaysia and Indonesia.
For Malaysia, the risk of Malaria is high in the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak towards the border with Indonesian Borneo. The risk of malaria is generally lower in the rest of Malaysian Borneo.
As far as Indonesia is concerned, the risk of malaria is year-round throughout the country with the exception of the cities of Jakarta and Ubud and the resorts of Java and Bali.
If you are travelling to an area at risk of Malaria, it is recommended that you take Malaria preventive medicine and protect yourself from mosquito bites. You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by wearing long trousers and long sleeves, using mosquito repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets.
Other vaccinations for Malaysia and Indonesia depend on the length of the trip and what activities you will be doing while travelling. If you are travelling to Malaysia or Indonesia for more than 4 weeks, a vaccination against Hepatitis B is recommended. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended if you are doing any of the above activities (see under Australia) even if the trip is shorter than 4 weeks.
In addition, if you are travelling for 4 weeks or more, you should be vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis.
If you are travelling for 6 months or more, you should also be vaccinated against Typhoid.