Adoption Travel Health Precautions

Recommended Vaccines: Get boosters if you are not up to date with routine shots such as MMR, DPT, and poliovirus vaccine, plus typhoid and hepatitis A. Russia's level of hepatitis B is noted as intermediate; the CDC recommends getting a vaccine if you're previously unvaccinated and traveling to countries with intermediate to high levels of HBV transmission.

Malaria: Little to no risk; it is still smart to try to prevent insect bites.

Other Issues: If you are traveling to far eastern Russia, consider getting vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis. Tick-borne encephalitis commonly occurs in Russia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia. Tuberculosis, including drug-resistant TB, is found in parts of Russia. Eastern Europe has seen cases of avian influenza virus H5N1 (contagious bird flu); avoid direct contact with wild birds and avoid places such as poultry farms and markets where live birds are kept. The World Health Organization tracks outbreaks; check before you travel.