Travel vaccines: information for health care workers

  • Natalie Schellack Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • N Van der Sandt Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • T Modau Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • T Poplar Sanofi Pasteur
  • J C Meyer Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Keywords: travel vaccines, yellow fever, dengue, polio, meningococcal meningitis

Abstract

Travel and volume of passengers and goods carried continue to expand in reach as more sophisticated air, sea and land transport networks develop. People are travelling for business and leisure, taking with them pathogens and their vectors bringing about diseases such as the global influenza pandemics. This review briefly examines some of the important vaccine preventable diseases related to travel. We then outline diseases known to Africa and other similar parts of the world, and potential approaches for preventing these conditions. The paper provides practical advice for health care workers when consulting with the international traveler and hence may strengthen the battle against vaccine preventable diseases.

Author Biographies

Natalie Schellack, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
BCur, BPharm, PhD Senior Lecturer Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
N Van der Sandt, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
BPharm (NWU), MPharm Candidate in Clinical Pharmacy (SMU) Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
T Modau, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
BPharm (NWU), MPharm Candidate in Clinical Pharmacy (SMU) Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
T Poplar, Sanofi Pasteur
Sanofi Pasteur Lyon France
J C Meyer, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
MSc (Med) Pharmacy, PhD (Pharmacy) Associate Professor Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Section
Review Articles