"Good judgment comes from experience. Most experience comes from bad judgment." ~Will Rogers

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Routine vaccinations should be up to date with all travelers.

Syringe Prior to your trip you need to make sure that you are up-to-date with all of the following vaccinations in addition to the ones recommended for your specific country of destination:

tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (booster dose within the last ten years)
measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
hepatitis B series
varicella (if there is no history of chicken pox)
influenza (yearly vaccine)

Check the immunization recommendations on the destinations pages or on the CDC web site if you don't know what you need for your trip.

Vaccines	Indications	Cost
Hepatitis A Viral illness causing sudden onset of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. Few fatalities or long term complications. Transmitted by contaminated food and water or direct person-to-person contact.	It is the most common vaccine-preventable infection acquired during travel. Risk of infection is usually greater in developing countries with a high prevalence.	Two dose series at least 6 months apart. $75.00 per dose No further doses are recommended.
Hepatitis B Viral illness which can range in severity from a mild acute illness to a serious long term illness that can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Transmitted by body fluids.	Recommended for anyone not already immune. Increased risk for travelers to developing countries, healthcare workers, and unsafe sex practices.	Three dose series with the second dose 1 month after the first, and the third dose six months after the first dose. $15.00 per dose for those 19 and under $60.00 per dose for those over 19
Influenza Viral illness causing sudden onset of fever, body aches and dry cough. Complications include pneumonia and death. Transmitted by respiratory droplets.	Recommended yearly for everyone. Generally administered in the fall.	$25.00
Japanese Encephalitis Viral illness appearing initially flu-like, which can progress to brain inflammation. In up to 30% of cases it results in death. Transmitted by mosquitoes.	Recommended for those staying for more than one month in rural areas of Asia where Japanese Encephalitis is present. Also for travelers who may have extensive outdoor evening and nighttime exposure such as hikers, bikers and campers.	Three dose series with second dose 7 days after the first, and the third dose 30 days after the first. $325.00 for series Needs special order. Protection lasting at least 2 years.
Measles/ Viral illness causing fever, cough and characteristic rash. Complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. ~2/1,000 cases result in death. Spread by respiratory droplets and highly contagious. Mumps/ Viral illness causing fever, muscle aches and swelling of the salivary glands. Can result in inflammation and damage to the brain, testicles, ovaries and breasts as well as deafness. Spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions. Rubella Viral illness causing fever and rash. Causes birth defects in >20% if acquired during pregnancy. Spread by respiratory droplets.	Recommended for anyone born after 1956 who is not already immune. Required to attend PLU.	Two dose series with the second dose at least 4 weeks after the first. $15.00 per dose
Meningococcal Bacterial infection which can rapidly progress through severe headache, stiff neck , fever and rash ending in death or permanent disability. Transmitted by respiratory droplets and nasal secretions.	Recommended for travelers to the "Meningitis Belt" countries of Africa and other areas with recent outbreaks. Required for travel to Saudi Arabia.	Menactra: one dose protects for over 8 years. Menomune: one dose protects for 3-5 years. Cost and availability vary.
Polio Viral illness which can result in paralysis or death. Transmitted by respiratory secretions and contaminated food and water.	One time booster as an adult recommended for all previously immunized travelers to certain parts of Africa and Asia.	One time adult dose. $40.00 per dose
Rabies Viral infection of the central nervous system causing muscle spasms, dementia and death. Transmitted by the saliva from bites, licks and scratches of infected animals--especially to the hands and face.	Recommended for stays in risk areas that are more than 24 hours from a reliable source of post-exposure vaccine. Also for occupational exposure, adventure travel and back packing in risk areas.	Three dose series with the second dose 7 days after the first, and the third dose 28 days after the first. $530.00 for series Currently very limited availability. No booster usually indicated for infrequent risk.
Tetanus/ Bacterial infection causing involuntary muscle spasms. Death results in ~20% of cases. It enters the body through breaks in the skin. Diphtheria/ Bacterial infection that causes sore throat and fever, but can lead to heart failure. Death results in ~10% of cases. Spread by respiratory droplets. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Bacterial infection causing violent coughing spells. It is especially dangerous for young children. Spread by respiratory droplets.	Combination vaccines, given initially as a series in early childhood (DTaP). Booster doses recommended every 10 years (Td), or after 5 years for open wounds. Recent addition of pertussis to adult vaccine (Tdap). One dose in place of regular Td recommended between ages 10 and 64.	$50.00 for Tdap
Typhoid Bacterial infection causing symptoms over a month including fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rash. Increasing antibiotic resistance. Transmitted by contaminated food and water.	Recommended for travelers to developing countries, especially if staying for a prolonged period of time, eating adventurously, participating in home stays, or visiting locations off usual tourist routes.	Injectable form protects for 2 years. Oral form protects for 5 years. $60.00 per dose
Varicella (Chicken Pox) Viral disease, highly contagious, causing blister-like rash, itching and fever. More frequent complications including pneumonia and hepatitis when contracted in adulthood. Spread by respiratory droplets and direct contact.	Recommended for anyone who has not had Chicken Pox.	Two dose series. Not available at the Student Health Center.
Yellow Fever Viral infection resulting in sudden onset of fever and jaundice which can progress to delirium and death. Transmitted by mosquitoes.	Recommended for travel to yellow fever endemic zones. Required for entry into certain countries.	One dose protects for 10 years. Only available at certified clinics. $90.00

Vaccines

Indications

Cost

Hepatitis A

Viral illness causing sudden onset of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. Few fatalities or long term complications.

Transmitted by contaminated food and water or direct person-to-person contact.

It is the most common vaccine-preventable infection acquired during travel. Risk of infection is usually greater in developing countries with a high prevalence.

Two dose series at least 6 months apart.

$75.00 per dose

No further doses are recommended.

Hepatitis B

Viral illness which can range in severity from a mild acute illness to a serious long term illness that can lead to liver failure or liver cancer.

Transmitted by body fluids.

Recommended for anyone not already immune.

Increased risk for travelers to developing countries, healthcare workers, and unsafe sex practices.

Three dose series with the second dose 1 month after the first, and the third dose six months after the first dose.

$15.00 per dose for those 19 and under

$60.00 per dose for those over 19

Influenza

Viral illness causing sudden onset of fever, body aches and dry cough. Complications include pneumonia and death.

Transmitted by respiratory droplets.

Recommended yearly for everyone.

Generally administered in the fall.

$25.00

Japanese Encephalitis

Viral illness appearing initially flu-like, which can progress to brain inflammation. In up to 30% of cases it results in death.

Transmitted by mosquitoes.

Recommended for those staying for more than one month in rural areas of Asia where Japanese Encephalitis is present. Also for travelers who may have extensive outdoor evening and nighttime exposure such as hikers, bikers and campers.

Three dose series with second dose 7 days after the first, and the third dose 30 days after the first.

$325.00 for series

Needs special order.

Protection lasting at least 2 years.

Measles/

Viral illness causing fever, cough and characteristic rash. Complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. ~2/1,000 cases result in death. Spread by respiratory droplets and highly contagious.

Mumps/

Viral illness causing fever, muscle aches and swelling of the salivary glands. Can result in inflammation and damage to the brain, testicles, ovaries and breasts as well as deafness. Spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions.

Rubella

Viral illness causing fever and rash. Causes birth defects in >20% if acquired during pregnancy. Spread by respiratory droplets.

Recommended for anyone born after 1956 who is not already immune.

Required to attend PLU.

Two dose series with the second dose at least 4 weeks after the first.

$15.00 per dose

Meningococcal

Bacterial infection which can rapidly progress through severe headache, stiff neck , fever and rash ending in death or permanent disability.

Transmitted by respiratory droplets and nasal secretions.

Recommended for travelers to the "Meningitis Belt" countries of Africa and other areas with recent outbreaks.

Required for travel to Saudi Arabia.

Menactra: one dose protects for over 8 years.

Menomune: one dose protects for 3-5 years.

Cost and availability vary.

Polio

Viral illness which can result in paralysis or death.

Transmitted by respiratory secretions and contaminated food and water.

One time booster as an adult recommended for all previously immunized travelers to certain parts of Africa and Asia.

One time adult dose.

$40.00 per dose

Rabies

Viral infection of the central nervous system causing muscle spasms, dementia and death.

Transmitted by the saliva from bites, licks and scratches of infected animals--especially to the hands and face.

Recommended for stays in risk areas that are more than 24 hours from a reliable source of post-exposure vaccine.

Also for occupational exposure, adventure travel and back packing in risk areas.

Three dose series with the second dose 7 days after the first, and the third dose 28 days after the first.

$530.00 for series

Currently very limited availability.

No booster usually indicated for infrequent risk.

Tetanus/

Bacterial infection causing involuntary muscle spasms. Death results in ~20% of cases. It enters the body through breaks in the skin.

Diphtheria/

Bacterial infection that causes sore throat and fever, but can lead to heart failure. Death results in ~10% of cases. Spread by respiratory droplets.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Bacterial infection causing violent coughing spells. It is especially dangerous for young children. Spread by respiratory droplets.

Combination vaccines, given initially as a series in early childhood (DTaP). Booster doses recommended every 10 years (Td), or after 5 years for open wounds.

Recent addition of pertussis to adult vaccine (Tdap). One dose in place of regular Td recommended between ages 10 and 64.

$50.00 for Tdap

Typhoid

Bacterial infection causing symptoms over a month including fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rash. Increasing antibiotic resistance.

Transmitted by contaminated food and water.

Recommended for travelers to developing countries, especially if staying for a prolonged period of time, eating adventurously, participating in home stays, or visiting locations off usual tourist routes.

Injectable form protects for 2 years.

Oral form protects for 5 years.

$60.00 per dose

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Viral disease, highly contagious, causing blister-like rash, itching and fever.

More frequent complications including pneumonia and hepatitis when contracted in adulthood.

Spread by respiratory droplets and direct contact.

Recommended for anyone who has not had Chicken Pox.

Two dose series.

Not available at the Student Health Center.

Yellow Fever

Viral infection resulting in sudden onset of fever and jaundice which can progress to delirium and death.