Adoption Travel Health Precautions

These are the immunizations you should keep up to date on whether or not you're planning to travel out of the country. A trip abroad is a good time to review your health records and make sure you are current on the following:

• influenza
• chickenpox (varicella)
• polio
• measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT)

Some childhood diseases like measles are still common in many parts of the world, even though we rarely see outbreaks in the United States. If you are not vaccinated you'll be at risk for contracting those illnesses.

A rabies vaccine is recommended just about anywhere you go, but especially if you'll be spending lots of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, or if you will be doing anything that might bring you into direct contact with bats. If your other children will accompany you, know that children are considered at higher risk for rabies because they're more likely to play with animals, and may not report bites.