Do you have plans for international travel? If so, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you check to be sure you are up to date on vaccinations because “many vaccine-preventable diseases that have become rare in the United States, such as measles and pertussis, are still common in other parts of the world.” To learn more about recommended vaccinations before traveling abroad, click here. Available in the App Store or Google Play is the CDC’s TravWell app, which helps you plan for safe and healthy international travel. It provides destination-specific vaccine recommendations, a checklist of what you need to do to prepare for travel, and a customizable healthy travel packing list.
Even if you are not traveling outside of the country, the CDC urges all adults to avoid vaccine-preventable disease by talking with their health care professional about their immunization status. According to the (CDC):
“Every year in the United States, thousands of adults become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent. These diseases can be deadly for many adults. Make sure you are vaccinated for the best protection. The need for vaccines does not go away with age. In fact, there are specific ages in your adult life when vaccinations are recommended. Also, protection from vaccines you received as a child can wear off over time, and there are more vaccines available now.”
To learn more about vaccine recommendations for adults, click here.
–Tidelines Editor
(Image credit: http://www.cdc.gov)