SYDNEY - Travel Health Care

Travellers General Vaccination Information:

For more information on a topic please click on the word.

Cholera	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B
Japanese Encephalitis	Meningococcal Meningitis	Rabies
Tuberculosis	Typhoid Fever	Yellow Fever

Cholera Vaccine:

Recommended for travellers to some countries. The cholera vaccine is an effervesces liquid. Two doses are required for travellers. The vaccine lasts for 3 years.

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Hepatitis A Vaccine:

Recommended for travellers to most countries. One injection work within 2 weeks and give protection for 12 months. A booster dose at 6-12 months will provide protection for at least 10 years. Side effects include pain and swelling at site of injection. Some people may experience headache, fatigue, fever or nausea.

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Hepatitis B Vaccine:

It is recommended for long term travellers in some countries. It consists of 3 injections at 0, 1 and 6 months. So considerable time need to be allowed before travel to finish the course. It will last for 5- 10 years. Side effects are mild including soreness at injection site and rarely fever, nausea, aches and pains. A combined Hepatitis A & B vaccines is also available.

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Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine:

Three(3) injections are required for people spending one(1) month or more in rural areas or 6 months or more in urban areas of endemic countries. Side effects include wheeze, urticaria and erythema multiforme. Not recommended for pregnant women.

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Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine:

This is recommended for travellers to rural areas of at risk countries. It is a single injection with immunity lasting for 3-5 years. Not recommended for pregnant women or children under 2. It is also required for pilgrims to holy places in Saudi Arabia.

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Rabies Vaccine:

This is recommended only for travellers living in highly endemic countries for a long period of time, or people engaging in high risk activities such as cave exploration. It involves 3 injections over 1 month. Local and systemic side effect are common with the vaccine.

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Tuberculosis Vaccine:

This is recommended only for children under the age of five who will be living in high prevalence area for a long period of time. It is also for health workers intending to work in high risk countries for a long period time. A skin test is needed before the vaccination. The vaccine BCG is only provided in a hospital setting in NSW. Referral details can be given by Matraville TCA. Prolonged inflammatory changes are common at the injection site.

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Typhoid Fever Vaccine:

This is recommended for travellers to a lot of countries especially the tropics. Vaccines can be in the oral form, which will last 2 years. There is an injectable form which last for 3 years. Side effects included headache, nausea, vomiting and tiredness. Not recommended for pregnant women or children less than 2 years of age. Allow about 2 weeks for vaccines to work.

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Yellow Fever Vaccine:

This is required to travel in some countries in Africa and South America. A vaccination certificate is needed as a legal condition of entry. A certificate is also required by all persons over 1 year of age who have been in an endemic area within 6 days of arrival in Australia. It is a single injection ,working after 10 days and lasting for 10 years. Side effects include headaches aches or mild fever. Not recommended for pregnant travellers or infant under 6 months or people with egg allergy. The vaccines can only be given by licensed centre like Matraville TCA.
Further information

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Last modified: 28 Nov 2009