RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - June 26 - Flipbook - Page 10
It is not just about
exotic destinations
There is a common
misconception that
travel vaccinations are
only needed for remote,
tropical or adventurous
destinations. While some
trips do carry higher
risks, such as rural travel,
long stays, humanitarian
work, backpacking,
trekking or visiting areas
with limited access to
clean water, vaccination
advice is not based on
geography alone.
Your personal risk
depends on several
factors, including your
age, health, vaccination
history, pregnancy
status, destination,
season of travel, planned
activities, length of stay
and whether you will
be visiting friends and
relatives. For example,
someone staying in a
昀椀ve-star hotel for a short
city break may have a
different risk pro昀椀le to
someone spending a
month in regional areas,
eating local street food,
working with animals
or staying with e
xtended family.
This is why generic online
lists are only a starting
point. The best advice
is personalised.
The diseases we forget can still travel
Measles is a useful reminder of why travel
vaccination matters. Australia has eliminated
endemic measles, which means it is not
constantly circulating in the community. However,
cases still occur when the virus is brought into
the country by travellers or overseas visitors.
Measles is highly contagious and can
cause serious complications, including
pneumonia and encephalitis. It can also place
babies, pregnant people, people who are
immunocompromised and those who cannot
be vaccinated at risk.
Recent Australian surveillance has shown that
most measles cases are linked to overseas
travel or contact with someone who acquired
the infection overseas. This reinforces a
simple but powerful message: checking your
vaccination status before travel does not only
protect you. It helps protect the community
when you come home.
