The recommended time of when you should be seeing your doctor before traveling is 4-6 weeks. This is because certain types of vaccines needed to be administered in multiple shots and there are times that it would take several days or weeks to fully take effect. However there are vaccines that can protect you partially after a single shot. You need to talk to your doctor about the things that needed to be done in order to lessen the risks of developing sickness in other countries.
Vaccines
You should make sure that you would be discussing with your doctor about the types of vaccine that you could take before going on a trip. These vaccines vary based on the destination and the location of the place where you will be staying. There are certain illnesses that you can prevent in just one shot such as Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, and Tetanus but you have to keep in mind that you need to follow the doctor’s instructions if you would be leaving immediately after the shot. If you are leaving immediately, you need to make sure that you listen to your doctor.
Preventing Malaria
If you are going to a place that has a high malaria risk, you would need to tell your doctor so that he/she would be able to prescribe a medicine that can prevent malaria. There are certain kinds of medications that you need to take in one to two weeks before you leave which is why if you would be leaving sooner, you need to inform your doctor about it. There are other drugs however that could protect you from malaria after when taken 1 to 2 days before travel. But you have to keep in mind that these medications for malaria is not a hundred percent effective which is why you also need to take certain steps to make sure that you are not bitten by mosquitoes.
Health Counseling
You have to keep in mind that not all sicknesses can be prevented by taking vaccinations which is why you also need to take the following steps:
- You need to make sure that you are wearing insect repellant
- You should be very wary about your food and water or beverage intake
- No matter how tempting, you need to make sure that you stay away from local animals unless they are proven safe
- Take precautionary measures to make sure that you avoid injuries
- Always carry a health kit or a first-aid kit.