Immunisation is the process by which a person attains immunity or resistance against infectious diseases through vaccinations. A vaccine is a suspension of dead or weakened disease-producing cells (antigen). Vaccination is the process of administering the vaccine into your body. These inactivated cells stimulate your body’s immune system. Once vaccinated, your immune system remembers that particular antigen and can combat it again later in your life.
Immunisations are important for children as well as adults, but the prevalence and complications from vaccine-preventable diseases remain significant in adults. Several national agencies have formulated detailed guidelines for comprehensive immunisation in adults. Some of the recommended adult vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella and zoster, and human papilloma virus vaccines.
Travellers are at a greater risk for contracting infectious diseases. Vaccinations must be personalised with respect to the traveller’s vaccination history, the country to be visited, the type and duration of travel, and the time left for departure. A travel medicine consultation should occur at least 2 to 3 months in advance to allow adequate time to optimise immunisation schedules. Some recommended vaccinations for travellers include typhoid, rabies, meningococcal disease, Japanese encephalitis, influenza, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, cholera, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), yellow fever, tetanus and diphtheria, poliomyelitis, pertussis, and MMR.
Immunocompromised and pregnant individuals are generally not recommended to receive live vaccines such as oral typhoid, yellow fever, MMR, varicella, and BCG. Independent practitioners can provide tailored recommendations based on individual circumstances.
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