Yellow fever, rabies, dengue… The map of vaccinations to take before leaving on a trip

For any globetrotter, the process is as essential as having an up-to-date passport. Before going abroad, it is better to find out about useful vaccinations before the trip. Because the risks vary depending on the state of health of the person, the health situation in the country, but also the severity of the infection. Although vaccination requirements against Covid-19 have now been lifted, parasites and tropical viruses can still spoil holidays, and in the most serious cases, prove fatal. At a time when tropical diseases are making headlines, anticipating this type of approach becomes essential.

In France, so-called “travel” vaccines cannot be administered, like others, by a doctor or nurse. They must be carried out in an international vaccination center, located within the infectious diseases departments of certain hospitals, or in dedicated organizations. As for the date of vaccination, there is no universal calendar. “Indeed, each calendar must be personalized and depends on the traveler (age, state of health, vaccination history), the country of destination and the conditions of the trip,” explains the French administration. According to the Pasteur Institute, it is still preferable to anticipate, “at the risk of being caught off guard”. Indeed, the deadlines for getting vaccinated can vary: a few days in Paris, between one and two months in Bordeaux, or even longer in certain medium-sized cities.

So, what so-called “travel” vaccine is necessary to take before leaving? Yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever… The answer with our search engine.

List of compulsory or recommended vaccines, depending on the country:

And some vaccines are more necessary than others. This is particularly the case for yellow fever, obligatory in certain places in Africa and South America, or the rabies vaccine, recommended for travelers in search of adventure, wishing to go to areas remote rural areas.

Yellow fever vaccine

The yellow fever vaccine, or yellow fever vaccine, remains essential for certain parts of the world. As a reminder, the disease is transmitted by the bites of mosquitoes of the Aedes and Haemagogus genera. It can progress from muscle pain, headaches and fever spikes to hemorrhagic syndromes in the most serious cases. The majority of sub-Saharan African countries require travelers to have the yellow fever vaccine, regardless of where they come from. It is also obligatory for anyone staying in French Guiana. “However, for people carrying out an airport transit of less than 12 hours in Guyana, vaccination against yellow fever is not compulsory”specifies the regional health agency of Guyana. In the rest of South America, apart from Guyana, where it is also compulsory, the yellow fever vaccine remains strongly recommended. According to the WHO, in 2023 the disease was “endemic throughout or in parts of 34 countries in Africa and 13 countries in Central and South America.” Each year, it records an average of 200,000 cases worldwide and 30,000 deaths. Once the vaccine has been administered, an international vaccination certificate is issued.

Rabies vaccine

Although it is partly extinct in certain European states, such as France (apart from Guyana) or Belgium, rabies remains present in more than 100 countries. Its impact remains significant, since it is responsible for 59,000 deaths per year worldwide, reports the Pasteur Institute. Vaccination is recommended for those staying in rural areas in Asia and Africa. It can intervene as a preventative measure or after the bite of an animal at risk. In the first case, three injections are necessary, “separated by one week then two or three weeks”, details the Vidal dictionary, reference for medications. In the event of a bite or contact with an infected animal, the vaccine is part of a more comprehensive treatment including anti-rabies serotherapy for the most severe exposures. “Treatment must be carried out quickly after exposure, before the appearance of the first symptoms, which indicate an inexorably fatal course,” specifies the Pasteur Institute. In the event of risky exposure, it is recommended to go to a rabies center, if possible.

What about malaria?

Malaria is a special case in the world of tropical diseases. Very few regions escape this infectious disease, transmitted by the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes. It is therefore crucial to take precautions before traveling to a risk area. Preventive anti-malaria treatments, prescribed by a doctor before travel, are available. They take into account the areas visited, the length of stay and the traveler’s medical history. Although two vaccines exist, RTS,S and R21, they are mainly recommended for the most vulnerable populations, particularly children living in endemic areas, and not for international travelers. Furthermore, their effectiveness remains moderate. For example, RTS,S only targets the parasite P. falciparum.

LISTEN – Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever… Our survival kit to return from vacation in good health

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