Gah. One more thing to worry about… Travel Vaccinations for Babies & Toddlers
Once I got a notice that my son’s vaccination records needed updating before he could enter Grade 2. Yes, that adorably chubby baby who took his first trip at a mere 10 weeks ( Quebec City , if you’re curious) was 7-years-old! Fortunately, I knew he was up-to-date on his vaccinations. It was a matter of phoning the Public Health office and updating their records. Easy peasy.
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
But that reminder brought me back to planning our first family vacation with our daughter before she was a year old. It was Varadero, Cuba , if you’re curious. Because we were traveling to the Caribbean, I had questions about necessary travel vaccinations for babies. So I consulted with our family doctor.
She advised that the main health concerns for the Caribbean and Mexico, outside of mosquito-borne diseases , are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Hepatitis A is not a serious illness for babies. Infants are very low risk for Hepatitis B (transmitted via infected blood). She felt those vaccines weren’t necessary. And that our recommended immunization schedule was enough to protect her.
Ready to Go
I was vaccinated against Hep A and Hep B via the Twinrix vaccine for a (sadly, cancelled) trip to Ethiopia and South Africa. So, we were free to enjoy our vacation, with the usual precautions for staying healthy while traveling like scrupulous hand washing, avoiding food you can’t peel or heat, and trying our best to avoid insect bites.
And to date (and I’m totally knocking wood here) we have been very lucky. We have not have taken ill during any trips to the Caribbean or Mexico.
Travel Vaccinations for Babies and Children: Routine Vaccinations
For most destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and Australia, your routine immunizations are enough to protect you and your child against diseases and illnesses mostly eradicated in North America (but still very much present in some parts of the world).
By age six, a child should be fully immunized against many diseases that can cause serious illness and even death. Including :
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Meningococcal disease
Whooping cough (Pertussis)
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Pneumococcal conjugate
Rotavirus
Hepatitis B
Beyond North America
But if you plan on visiting countries outside of North America, you may consider (or) require additional travel vaccinations for babies , toddlers, or children.
Here is a look at a few that may be necessary…
Travel Vaccinations for Babies and Children: Cholera & Traveler’s Diarrhea
Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by a bacteria called Vibrio cholerae . It is found in contaminated water in places with contaminated water and poor sanitation. Cholera is more commonly found in Asia, India, and Africa. As of February 2024 there is a multi-country outbreak of Cholera .
Haiti is currently experiencing a deadly outbreak. So, Haiti’s connected neighbour (Dominican Republic) is also affected. See the WHO’s cholera map, here . The diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and even kidney failure or death. If caught early most have a full recovery through the use of antibiotics.
Traveller’s Diarrhea
