jump to navigation | jump to content

Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC

Q: Hi, I am travelling to India in June for a month or so with my son who will be 11 months old during that time. I would like to know what immunizations he needs to take before travel and how many weeks before he can take them.

Thanks, Himabindu.

 

A:  For any children, the first immunisation issue is that they are up-to-date with their routine vaccine schedule. The normal schedule is that at 12 months of age MMR, haemophilus and meningococcal C vaccines are due. All of these diseases are more common in India, so it would be appropriate to have these arranged before departure, the later the better. They can wait till return, but there is a slightly increased risk of acquiring these diseases in India. Influenza vaccine should be considered as well. There are no specific travel-related vaccines recommended until after 12 moths of age, so if leaving before the first birthday, just concentrate on the normal schedule vaccines.

You and your family can be classified as "VFR" travellers which stands for travellers Visiting Friends and Relatives, a group that represents nearly 25% of all Australian travellers. This is a section of Australian travellers who tend to get more illness while travelling because they live under local conditions, and are less protected than "foreign" tourists. This means that extra care needs to be taken in care with food and water, insect and animal avoidance, and other local health risks. For a detailed discussion about travel risks in India, visit a Travel Doctor clinic.

Dr John

 

Disclaimer: Information provided in this health column is of a general nature & should not replace specific advice from your own personal Travel doctor-TMVC consultation.
Not all questions submitted to the website will be answered & Users of this website should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions they have regarding their health or a medical condition.