Your handy travel innoculation check-list
IMC’s Dr Michael Rodger educates and recommends inoculation against deadly infections for safe and healthy holiday travel.
In 1796 Gloucestershire doctor Edward Jenner noticed those who contracted cowpox – the cow’s equivalent of smallpox – rarely caught the deadly human version. To test his theory, Jenner deliberately infected an eight year-old boy with the pus from a cowpox sore. The boy became ill but recovered. He then infected him with smallpox and as suspected, the previous cowpox infection protected the boy from smallpox. This gave birth to modern vaccinations. Pathogens are microbes that cause diseases. When a small amount of the weakened or inactive microbe is introduced into your body it stimulates the immune system, producing antibodies to fight off disease. Your immune system remembers the microbe and defends your body against future infection – effectively immunising you against the disease.
Although Singapore is relatively free of tropical diseases, neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are not so fortunate. Here are a core group of essential vaccinations that are almost universally recommended for the South East Asian region.
Hepatitis A is contracted from contaminated food or water and causes viral inflammation of the liver. Two vaccines are given six to 12 months apart and immunity lasts over 20 years.
Hepatitis B usually transmitted by dirty needles, blood transfusions and sexual contact, is a highly infections viral inflammation of the liver contracted through blood, blood products or bodily fluids. A course of three vaccines over six months is required followed by a blood test to check for life-long immunity. A combined vaccine with hepatitis A is also available.
Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted via contaminated food and drink. The vaccine lasts up to three years.
Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis are bacterial infections requiring a combination vaccine which can last up to a decade.
Polio is a viral infection causing paralysis. Adult booster vaccinations are advised if no booster was administered in the last 10 years.
Rabies, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis and cholera have appropriate vaccinations for long-term travel or when you travelling to more remote locations within the South East Asian region.
Yellow fever is present primarily in Africa and South America. Be aware you may require proof of vaccination against yellow fever when re-entering Singapore.
No vaccine is currently available for Malaria. It’s a fatal disease prevalent in many inland areas of South East Asia and prevention can be managed with medication, mosquito nets and repellents. Consult your doctor four to six weeks before travelling within the region and discuss your vaccination requirements, travel medications, food and water hygiene, mosquito repellents and preventative prescription medications. If you’re embarking on an extended trip, allow six months for inoculation. Rest assured most vaccinations are fully effective after two weeks.
Dr Michael Rodger MBChB MRCGP (UK)Dr Michael Rodger worked in the UK before relocating to Singapore in January 2011 and now works at the International Medical Clinic at Camden Medical Centre.
