Immunizations

A number of diseases that once killed thousands of people each year are no longer as widespread a threat. In many cases, this is due to vaccinations. The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) say that over the years, vaccinations have helped reduce the number of outbreaks of diseases such as measles, mumps, even the flu.

Vaccinations are important for travel to most developing countries and are required by some countries for entry. Common infections for which vaccines are available include hepatitis A and B, polio, and yellow fever. Some vaccines take up to 6 months to achieve their maximum effect, so early planning is necessary. An International Certificate of Vaccination is the best place to document the names and dates of all vaccinations. The certificate is easy to carry and can be obtained from many travel clinics or from the Superintendent of Documents at the U.S. Government Printing Office.