Travel vaccination information

It’s that time of the year again – lots of our patients are taking holidays abroad and asking questions about travel vaccines – especially if travelling to certain parts of Africa and Asia.

Travel Vaccines and Rheumatic Disease.

If you have a rheumatic disease and are taking biologic, immunosuppressive, or immunomodulatory medicines, it is important to know how to safely get vaccines before traveling. These medicines can make it harder for your body to fight infections, so vaccines are especially important, but some types of vaccines may not be safe for you.

Why Vaccines Matter

– People with rheumatic diseases and those on these medicines are at higher risk for infections, including those that can be prevented by vaccines.

– Vaccines help protect you from serious illnesses, especially when traveling to places where certain diseases are more common.

Which Vaccines Are Safe?

– Most inactivated (non-live) vaccines are safe and recommended, even if you are taking biologic or immunosuppressive medicines. These include vaccines for flu, hepatitis A and B, pneumonia, meningitis, and tetanus.

– It is important to get all routine and travel-required inactivated vaccines as needed.

Which Vaccines Should Be Avoided?

– Live vaccines (such as yellow fever, oral typhoid, measles-mumps-rubella [MMR], and chickenpox/varicella) are usually not recommended if you are taking biologic therapies or moderate-to-high dose immunosuppressive medicines, because they can cause infection in people with weakened immune systems.

– If a live vaccine is required for travel, talk to your rheumatologist. Sometimes, it may be possible to temporarily stop certain medicines before and after vaccination, but this must be carefully planned.

Practical Tips for Travel Vaccines

– Plan ahead: See your doctor or a travel clinic at least 2–3 months before your trip to review your vaccine needs and medication schedule.

– Bring a list of your medicines to your appointment.

– If a live vaccine is required, your doctor may discuss whether it is safe to pause some medicines. This is not always possible or safe, so the risks and benefits must be discussed.

– Ask for a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and why you may not be able to receive certain vaccines, in case you need to show this when traveling.

– Make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccines before starting immunosuppressive therapy, if possible.

Summary

– Most travel vaccines are safe and recommended, but live vaccines should usually be avoided while on biologic or immunosuppressive therapy.

– Always discuss your travel plans and vaccine needs with your rheumatologist well in advance.

– Shared decision-making is important to balance your travel needs and your health.

For more information, talk to your rheumnatologist or a travel medicine specialist.