Austria is arguably one of Europe’s more beautiful places to visit. Bordering the countries of Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, and sharing the Alps, Austria can be a fun and interesting place. The famous composer Mozart was born here, as was Arnold Schwarzenegger. One very important piece of planning you shouldn’t ignore when you travel to Austria is your vaccination history. This oversight could ruin a nice vacation. Start from visiting your local NYC travel clinic.
In many countries, there is no such thing as routine immunizations for babies, or even for adults. There is a risk that you could be exposed to a disease that is rare or uncommon here in the U.S., so every precaution should be taken to ensure your continued health. Start by checking with your healthcare professional to see if you are up to date with boosters for things like tetanus and diphtheria.
Polio is still a threat in some places, so be sure you are up to date with this vaccine as well. Measles, mumps, and rubella are two other potential vacation crashers that can be easily remedied with a booster if you are due.
Hepatitis B is something you definitely want to be protected from, as it is easy to become exposed to. If you are planning to have sex with someone local, you could be putting yourself at risk. Use protection and get vaccinated for HPV and Hepatitis A and B.
While rare, there are instances where Americans are involved in accidents while abroad. Before leaving the US, you need to be aware that not all countries have an industry standard for cleanliness and sterility. Hepatitis B is transmitted by blood or bodily fluids, so this is particularly important. Get your vaccinations as soon as possible.
Rabies is not something common tourists would need to concern themselves with. However, anyone who may come into contact with animals of any kind is well-advised to get a rabies vaccine. This is especially crucial if you will be backpacking, camping, skiing, sledding, cave exploring, or hiking. Rabies is generally carried by a variety of “cute” animals like squirrels, cats, and dogs, so don’t let your guard down. If you will be visiting small hamlets or villages with stray animals, you may want to be sure you are immunized. All it takes is one scratch or nip to become infected. Once infected with rabies and symptoms present themselves, it is almost impossible to treat. Nearly everyone who presents symptoms dies. Be proactive about your vaccinations!
You should plan all of your vaccinations and boosters well ahead of time, giving yourself a minimum of 4 weeks after you’ve had your shots before you travel. You will want to have the immunizations working at their full potential, which requires about 4 to 6 weeks. Even if you won’t have enough time for the shots and vaccines to work most effectively, go ahead and get them anyway. Some protection, no matter how little, is far better than none at all.
We strongly urge you to consult with your healthcare provider, or if you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them. Make an appointment with Dr. Gafanovich. Contact us today.