Vaccinations
Recommended Vaccinations while traveling to India
Before embarking on your India vacations, you must make yourself familiar with different diseases that are common in Indian climatic conditions. In addition to that you should also consult your physician before going for any vaccination or medicine. Here is a comprehensive list of all the diseases that are common to India and vaccinations for them.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India.
Typhoid
All travelers are recommended to take Typhoid vaccination.
Polio
In case of Polio, one-time booster is recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult.
Yellow Fever
Vaccination for yellow fever is required only for travelers arriving from or transiting through any yellow-fever-infected area like Africa.
Japanese Encephalitis
This vaccine is recommended for travelers staying for more than 1 month and traveling to rural areas or travelers engaging in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk.
Hepatitis B
Travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents should take this vaccination, especially if their period of stay is more than 6 months.
Rabies
Any traveler who may have direct contact with animals should take this vaccination.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
If any person born after 1956 has not previously taken this vaccination, he/she should take two doses of the same.
Tetanus-Diphtheria
You need to take this revaccination every 10 years.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Hepatitis A is an acute, usually self-limiting disease of the liver caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is transmitted from person to person, primarily by the faecal-oral route. The incidence of hepatitis A is closely related to socioeconomic development, and sero-epidemiological studies show that prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in the general population varies from 15% to close to 100% in different parts of the world. An estimated 1.5 million clinical cases of hepatitis A occur each year. In young children HAV infection is usually asymptomatic whereas symptomatic disease occurs more commonly among adults. Infection with HAV induces lifelong immunity. In areas of low endemicity, hepatitis A usually occurs as single cases among persons in high-risk groups or as outbreaks involving a small number of persons. In areas of high endemicity most persons are infected with HAV without symptoms during childhood. This explains why clinical hepatitis A is uncommon. In countries of low and intermediate disease endemicity, adult disease is seen more often. Hepatitis A may represent a substantial medical and economic burden. Currently, four inactivated vaccines against HAV are internationally available. All four vaccines are safe and effective, with long-lasting protection. None of the vaccines are licensed for children less than one year of age.
The results of appropriate epidemiological and cost-benefit studies should be carefully considered before deciding on national policies concerning immunization against hepatitis A. As part of this decision process, the public health impact of hepatitis A should be weighed against the impact of other vaccine-preventable infections, including diseases caused by hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, rubella and yellow fever.
In countries highly endemic for hepatitis A, almost all persons are infected in childhood with the virus without showing symptoms, effectively preventing clinical hepatitis A in adolescents and adults. In these countries, large-scale vaccination programmes are not recommended. In countries of intermediate disease endemicity, where a relatively large proportion of the adult population is susceptible to HAV, and where hepatitis A represents a significant public health burden, large-scale childhood vaccination may be considered as a supplement to health education and improved sanitation.
In regions of low disease endemicity, vaccination against hepatitis A is indicated for individuals with increased risk of contracting the infection, such as travellers to areas of intermediate or high endemicity.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by a virus (the Hepatitis Bvirus) infection. It causes destruction of the liver tissue. The thing that makes hepatitis-B dangerous is the fact that it can lead to liver cancer in a significant number of patients later in life.
What are the signs & symptoms of Hepatitis B infection?
There may not be any manifest signs & symptoms in a majority of sufferers. Some patients develop symptoms of tiredness, bodyache, loss of appetite & mild fever. They may develop yellow discoloration of skin & eyes (jaundice), dark urine & complain of pale feces.
There is no definite treatment for the disease. Vaccination against the virus is effective in preventing infection.
What are the sources of infection for Hepatitis-B?
Following are the major routes of transmission of Hepatitis-B:
- Contact with infected blood & body fluids, like from blood tranfusions or to medical personnel during operations and patient care.
- Contaminated I.V. needles including accidental needle pricks.
- Sex with infected person or multiple partners
- From infected mother to newborn.
Who all are at risk of getting Hepatitis-B ?
All medical staff; paramedical staff; intravenous drug users, heterosexuals with multiple partners, homosexuals & prostitutes; Thalassemics and hemophiliacs who regularly receive blood or related products; infants born to Hepatitis B infected mothers & family members of virus carriers are particularly at high risk.
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The problem of hepatitis infection is very common in Soth East Asia. For example in India, one out of every 20 individuals is a Hepatitis B virus carrier. Contact with such carriers can transmit the virus to others.
What is Hepatitis B vaccination and what is the course?
Hepatitis-B vaccination has now become the part of the primary immunization of infants in many countries and is being administred in many parts of India in the National Immunization Program.
The vaccine enables the body to produce antibodies against Hepatitis B infection. The course consists of three doses:
First dose at an elected date
Second dose after one month
and Third dose at six months after first dose.
In India, now, a genetically engineered vaccine is available.
Are there any contraindications to the use of hapatitis-B vaccine?
It is contra-indicated in individuals who are hypersensitive to yeast, or any other components of the vaccine. |
Typhoid
What is typhoid?
Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterium (germ) called Salmonella typhi. This bacterium may contaminate food or drink in areas of poor sanitation. Symptoms include diarrhoea, high fever, and a serious illness which may last for some time. It is sometimes fatal.
(Note: there are many types of Salmonella bacteria. Most types remain in the gut and cause diarrhoea, often as part of 'food poisoning'. The type called Salmonella typhi can get from the gut into other parts of the body and cause the more serious illness of typhoid fever.)
People with typhoid fever pass out the bacteria with their faeces (motions). Even when symptoms have gone, about 1 in 10 people who have had typhoid fever remain 'carriers'. This means that some bacteria continue to live inside the gut, and you continue to pass out bacteria with your faeces. If hygiene is not good, the bacteria can be passed to others who may then get typhoid fever. About half of carriers become free of the typhoid bacteria within three months, but up to half of carriers continue to pass out typhoid bacteria with their faeces long-term.
The incubation period for the disease is usually 1-3 weeks. So, you do not get symptoms for 1-3 weeks after becoming infected. Around 200 cases are notified in the UK each year. About 8 in 10 of these cases are in people who caught the infection abroad.
Who should be immunised against typhoid?
Travellers to areas where typhoid is a problem should be immunised. Particularly where hygiene and sanitation are poor. The worst affected areas are Asia, Africa, Central and South America. Immunisation may not be needed for short stays to some affected countries if you stay in good accommodation (including most 'package holidays'). Your GP or practice nurse can advise if you should be immunised against typhoid for your travel destination.
People who handle specimens which may contain typhoid bacteria should also be immunised.
The vaccine
A single injection of vaccine gives protection for three years. Ideally you should have an injection at least two weeks before travel to allow immunity to develop. However, the vaccine may still be advised even if there is less than two weeks before you travel. The vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies against typhoid bacteria. These antibodies protect you from illness should you become infected with typhoid bacteria.
A booster dose is recommended every three years for those still at risk.
A combined vaccine against typhoid fever and hepatitis A is also available. This may be useful if you require protection against both illnesses. The hepatitis A component gives protection for one year and the typhoid component gives protection for three years.
Are there any possible side-effects?
Mild local soreness and redness may occur after the injection, but serious reactions are rare.
Who should not receive typhoid vaccine?
- Pregnant women. The risks are thought to be very small, but as with any other vaccine it is wise to play safe. However, if your risk of exposure to typhoid is high, it may be advisable to be immunised even if you are pregnant.
- If you have an illnesses with fever it is best to wait until the illness has subsided before being immunised.
- Children under the age of 18 months.
- You should not have a booster if you have had a severe reaction to this vaccine in the past.
Other points
Remember - immunisation for travellers is only one aspect of preventing illness. Typhoid vaccine is not 100% effective, particularly if you are exposed to large numbers of typhoid bacteria. So when you travel to 'at risk' areas you should: have good personal hygiene, only drink water or other drinks that are known to be safe (bottled water, sterilised water, etc), and only eat foods that have been cleaned and/or prepared properly.
For more information, medical assessment and medical quote
as email attachment to
Email : info@wecareindia.com
Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST)
(Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)
| Created On: August 4, 2008 |
Updated On: July 01, 2010 |
| Author : Dr. Sarita Kumawat |
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