Traveling with kids can be rewarding for families who value new adventures and experiences. It’s your opportunity to open their eyes to new situations, places, foods, ideas, and cultures. However, before planning your next trip, it’s essential to prepare for travel safely, including getting the appropriate travel vaccines.
Why Travel Health Matters
Different regions around the world, including within the U.S., can expose families to illnesses that may not be common at home. Some of these are preventable with vaccines or simple precautions. When traveling, children may face new risks from:
- Food and waterborne illnesses (e.g., typhoid, hepatitis A, traveler’s diarrhea)
- Insect-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue, Zika)
- Respiratory infections (e.g., COVID-19, influenza, or measles)
- Environmental exposures (e.g., sun, altitude, or pollution)
Children’s immune systems are still developing, and they may not yet have full protection against certain diseases. That’s why travel preparation is as much about prevention as it is about adventure.
Staying healthy while traveling includes:
- Washing hands often
- Choosing safe food and drink options.
- Avoiding insect bites
- Taking preventative medications
- Getting preventative travel vaccines
- Boosting immunity
- Packing a first aid kit for stomach issues or wounds.
- Ensuring you have all the necessary documents and travel insurance so you can receive assistance quickly and minimize stress during your trip
Staying Informed When Planning Travel
Finding reliable information on travel and health can be challenging, but it is still available. Travel vaccine recommendations can depend on where you are going, your child’s age, health history, and overall health status. Therefore, you need to know where to look. Finding trusted, peer-reviewed, and evidence-based sources that are current can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some places to start:
- The World Health Organization (WHO). Their website includes global vaccine and travel health updates.
- Embassy or consulate websites for your destination country, which often provide information on entry and vaccination requirements.
- State or county public health departments often maintain their own travel health pages and guidance, which may include information on local outbreaks.
- Your pediatric healthcare provider. We have access to up-to-date information on regional risks and vaccine recommendations and can help you determine what you need before traveling.
Questions to Ask Before Traveling
- What are the health costs, and do I have room for that in my travel budget?
- Are there special considerations for my immunocompromised child?
- Are my child’s routine vaccinations, like DTaP, polio, HepA, HepB, MMR, and flu, up to date?
- Does our destination have additional vaccine recommendations, like typhoid, rabies, yellow fever, or Japanese encephalitis?
- What travel medications or precautions might we need? This includes everything from learning about water safety to taking malaria or elevation medication.
- What’s the best way to handle illness while abroad? What symptoms would mean seeking medical care right away?
When To Seek Medical Care While Traveling
- Fever over 103.5°
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- Lethargy
- Unable to eat or drink
- Confusion
- Delirium
When to Contact Your Pediatric Provider
- Reach out at least 6–8 weeks before you travel, since some vaccines require more than one dose or take time to become effective.
- Even if your trip is sooner, it’s still worth talking with your provider to help prioritize what’s most essential and discuss other protective measures.
- If your child has chronic health issues, discuss how you can help prevent them from getting worse during travel and how to find medical help if they do.
- After returning home, contact your pediatrician if your child develops a fever, rash, stomach issues, or other unusual symptoms, especially within a few weeks of travel.
Travel can be a powerful way for children to learn and grow. With thoughtful preparation and informed care, your family can explore the world safely. Your team at Growing Healthy Together is here to support you and your family as you navigate these valuable experiences. Contact us with your questions or comments, and we look forward to seeing you at your next visit.
