Borders are Open

It’s time to start planning your next overseas holiday – and the vaccinations you need to get before going.

International travel is back on and with that comes the excitement of planning your next holiday abroad. Where will it be? London, New Delhi, Morocco? The world is your oyster!

With the joy of heading overseas, so too comes the responsibility of ensuring you’re protected against any harmful diseases. In a post-COVID world, many countries now require proof of vaccination upon arrival but it’s important to remember that it’s not just COVID-19 vaccinations you should consider before getting on an international flight – particularly if you’re heading to an exotic location.

Amcal recently polled the country on vaccinations, and it was revealed that more than 1 in 5 Aussies (22.6%) plan on traveling to exotic countries in 2022 but half (55.5%) don’t know any or some of the vaccinations they need to get before going and 3 in 5 (62.9%) don’t know how far in advance they need to be vaccinated before traveling.

That’s why we’re here to provide expert advice on what vaccinations you need to consider before heading overseas. So, here’s what you need to know:

Vaccinations you should consider before traveling to any country

Most countries now require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. You should ensure you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster shots, before traveling internationally.  To keep up to date on guidelines around being fully vaccinated before traveling, visit The Department of Health, here.

You should also ensure you’re up to date with your influenza (flu) vaccinations before traveling anywhere overseas, particularly if you’re heading to a cold country as the virus survives better in colder temperatures, meaning it can spread more easily from person-to-person².

The flu vaccine is updated every year to protect against the strains most likely to be circulating, so if you haven’t received your annual influenza vaccination and are about to head overseas, check with your local Amcal pharmacist for some expert advice.

Vaccinations you should consider before travelling to an exotic country

Some infectious diseases that aren’t common in Australia are more prominent in other countries. Particularly in exotic locations such as Central or South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and India or developing countries.

If you’re planning on travelling to an exotic location as such, there are a few travel vaccinations that you should consider. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis
• Meningococcal
• Polio
• Tuberculosis³

Not all travel vaccinations are required before heading to each location, so it’s best to consult an Amcal pharmacist on what vaccinations you need before heading to a specific location.

For more information on diseases to be aware of when traveling overseas, visit The Department of Health’s travel immunisation page, here.

When to get a vaccination before traveling overseas

Like many vaccinations, it can take up to a few weeks after receiving travel vaccinations for immunity to come into effect. It’s best to be as prepared as possible with your vaccinations, so the Australian government recommends consulting your doctor or pharmacist six to 12 weeks before you plan on travelling overseas³.

Book a vaccination today

1. Research conducted among 1,025 Australian adults by the Online Research Unit in March 2022, commissioned by Amcal.
2. Amcal, 2022, https://www.amcal.com.au/travelvaccinations
3. The Department of Health, 2022, https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/immunisation-for-travel
Amcal has endeavoured to ensure that Information is correct and current at the time of publication 2.0.5.21