Before taking a trip out of the country, you may be surprised to find that the law requires (or medical professionals recommend) a travel vaccination or two. While most countries are free of such necessity, certain destinations are fraught with diseases unlikely to pop up in the U.S. Both you and the U.S. government have a vested interest in keeping it that way. Of course, in some cases you may already have the immunizations you need. To know for sure, however, you'll need to rely on your vaccination history. If you keep your own good records, that won't be a problem. Unfortunately for some, this may require a bit of research.
Your Parents
Most people don't remember to take all of their records with them when they move out of their parents' house. Therefore, you should check with your parents first if you're looking for your own immunization records. If you traveled as a child, you may already have had the travel vaccination you need. Of course, you may still need to have the adult version of the shot again, but it is a good starting place in your search.
Your Doctor
For those who have lived in the same town their entire lives, and only recently graduated from their lifelong pediatrician to a family doctor he or she recommended, finding medical records will be easy-- simply contact your doctor and ask for them. You should be able to get your immunization history and know once and for all if you need the travel vaccination being recommended. If you moved frequently as a child, however, this may not be helpful. You can still try tracking down the hospital of your birth or the state government, however, to see if your records are available. Most states have ways you can procure duplicates of these records for your personal files.
Getting New Immunizations
Chances are good that, regardless of whether or not you can find your childhood immunization records, you will still need the recommended travel vaccination. Childhood vaccines cover such diseases as mumps, rubella, and measles, but won't protect you against yellow fever, meningitis, and some of the other diseases you are in danger of contracting when travelling to certain areas of the world. Make sure you get your vaccines well in advance of your trip, as some need time to develop in your system before reaching full
effectiveness.
If you are planning to leave the country and need a travel vaccination towson medical professionals can you supply you with the immunization you need. Visit http://www.doctorsexpresstowson.com to find out more.
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