Last Minute: Do not forget vaccination!
More and more Germans are doing it: they only book shortly before departure. Blue skies, strange smells, unfamiliar colors - and already the psyche is happy to go on vacation. Our body, on the other hand, needs a little more preparation to be prepared for meeting other cultures. And often one or the other vaccination. Fortunately, most vaccinations today are also possible "last minute" - two weeks to ten days before departure. Passionate long-distance travelers but better to do something for the disease defense already off-season.
Southern and Eastern Europe
A city trip to St. Petersburg? Or to Baden to southern Spain? Well, if you have taken care to refresh the basic vaccines regularly (every ten years): tetanus (tetanus) and diphtheria. Tetanus pathogens are found everywhere in dust and soil: they can get into the blood stream with every minor injury, and the infection is life-threatening. Also, a diphtheria disease can be dangerous if not treated immediately and consistently. The pathogen is transmitted by coughing and sneezing from person to person - and is widespread in southern and eastern Europe as well as in the tropics.
As protection against Polio (polio) It is usually sufficient if you have either been vaccinated four times as a child or have received at least one additional vaccine as an adult. You have not been vaccinated for ages? A refresher is possible even a few days before departure.
In addition, for many regions of Southern and Eastern Europe to note: the hygiene standards are not as strict as ours. The Hepatitis A virus (jaundice) can therefore be easily transferred: about ice cream or salads that have been washed with contaminated water. Even the cold buffet of a four-star hotel or the market peach is not safe in this respect, as reported by Prof. Thomas Löscher from the Tropical Institute at the University of Munich. For the hepatitis A vaccination, therefore, a rule of thumb applies: "vaccinate south of the Alps and east of the Oder" - and that should happen at least ten days before departure. The vaccine protection lasts ten to twenty years.
Hiking and trekking
If you want to hike or camp in southern Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia or Hungary, you should go against the Early summerencephalitis (TBE) vaccinate. The pathogens are transmitted by infected ticks.
There is an 80 percent protection after two vaccinations at intervals of four to twelve weeks, the protection is safe only after the third vaccine about nine months later. For urgent patients, the vaccine can be repeated twice after the first vaccination, after one and three weeks. Then after a year, a refresher is necessary.
Especially for trekking and backpack travelers to India, Mexico and possibly also Eastern Europe is one Rabies vaccination to consider. In Central European countries, rabies is rarely or completely eradicated, so only people who have much contact with wildlife are vaccinated. A basic rabies vaccine will be effective five weeks after the first vaccination (or ten days after the third dose), requiring a total of four injections. Unfortunately, the vaccine protection only lasts for about two years. A total of four syringes are needed. Unfortunately, the vaccine protection only lasted about two years.
Thailand and tropics
From the winter cold to Thailand or Madagascar, by last minute bargain to Cuba? Who spends his holiday at the hotel beach and renounces trips to the interior, is with a vaccine against Tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A already well protected. But if you like to go exploring in tropical or subtropical regions, you should at least find out if there is one Typhoid vaccine makes sense for your destination (also possible in combination with hepatitis A up to ten days before departure). However, the protection is limited: the vaccine prevents only about 60 percent of infections.
South on your own
Do you prefer traveling with a lot of contact with the country and its people, even outside of Europe? Then maybe one Hepatitis B vaccination advisable. The B virus is transmitted by blood, for example in micro injuries during sexual intercourse, in accidents and medical interventions. The infection becomes chronic in adults in five to ten percent of cases, with the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The vaccination series should start about six weeks before departure. Only after the second dose is there an 85% protection. In a rapid vaccination scheme can be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B together until three weeks before departure.
Anyone traveling to tropical or subtropical Africa or South America should also venture out yellow fever protect: The life-threatening viral disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. The yellow fever vaccination is only carried out at approved vaccination centers and no later than ten days before departure.
Travelers traveling in markets and on public transport in the so-called "meningitis belt" (Sahel countries and tropical Africa) should turn to Meningitis (meningitis) vaccinate, because the risk of disease due to droplet infection from person to person is very high, especially in the dry season. This vaccination takes place no later than ten days before the start of the journey.
Against malaria Unfortunately, you can not get vaccinated yet. Depending on the destination is one drug prophylaxis or the taking of emergency medication makes sense. Before starting your journey, find out about the situation in the destination country and appropriate protective measures.
Basically
Vaccinations usually have only minor side effects. Nevertheless, they burden the organism - after all, the body undergoes a mini-infection. Not ideal, if you are already ready for vacation and in the departure stress. So plan something more long-term. Also important: No vaccine protects 100 percent. Even after a vaccination, the usual hygiene rules and protective measures -. B. against insect bites - must be observed! Good news for all travelers: Most health insurance companies are now paying travel vaccinations. It is worth asking.
Detailed information on travel vaccinations can be found at: www.gesundes-reisen.de, Tel. 0900/123 49 99 (1.86 Euro / min. from the German landline, different mobile phone tariff); www.tropenmedizin.de: With the tropical medicine doctors in Freiburg there is also a written or telephone advice, tel. 0761/34 100 against fee (starting from 20 euro).
