Vaccines for Overseas Travel

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If you are travelling overseas, it is vital to make sure that you have the necessary vaccinations. Diseases that have been all but eradicated in the United States may be a large problem in numerous countries around the world. The exact vaccinations you need will depend on where, exactly, you are going. Speak to your physician about your travel plans so that you can decide what you need before you travel.
Routine vaccinations
You should make sure that you are up to date on all routine vaccinations that are recommended for adults. These may include the annual influenza or flu shot, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap), varicella (chickenpox), HPV vaccine for women, HPV vaccine for men, zoster (shingles), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, pneumococcal, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. You may need additional shots based on your age or a specific condition.
Yellow fever
A vaccine for yellow fever is not only recommended, but actually required depending on where you are going. The International Health Regulations require those who go to tropical South America and some sub-Saharan African countries to get this shot.
Meningoccoccal meningitis
This vaccine prevents against meningitis, an extremely serious condition in which the brain swells. It can cause serious illness and death. If you travel to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj, you will be required to get this.
Other commonly needed vaccinations
Beyond the routine vaccinations, there is no single must-have vaccination since everything is dependent on the country you visit. Some popular ones that you may need include Japanese encephalitis, rabies and typhoid. The CDC offers an information page where you can put in your destination and find out the recommended vaccines. For instance, if you are visiting the United Kingdom, it is recommended that you get the routine vaccinations as well as hepatitis B. If you are going to South Africa you will want to get those as well as hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies.
Some vaccines are recommended for certain groups. For instance, those who will be outdoors a lot should be more diligent about getting the rabies vaccine. Generally, you will need more vaccinations for the areas with poorer health conditions. Places that do not have clean water, for instance, might present a greater risk of typhoid.
Make sure that you do what is necessary to protect yourself while travelling. Get the required vaccines and give yourself enough time for them to become fully effective.