How far in advance to get travel vaccinations?

I will be traveling to Costa Rica and Chile over the next 6-12 months and spending 1-2 months in each country while I am there.

I checked the CDC website for Costa Rica and Chile, as well as the general vaccination guidelines page, and it recommends that I get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid 3-4 weeks before I travel.

Is it necessary to wait, or can I get these vaccinations done now so that I have one more thing out of the way? Are travel vaccinations like "routine" vaccinations in that you just need to keep up on them every year or so, or do you really need to take them closer to when you travel?

planning health

Best Answer

Hep A vaccine is generally given as two shots at 0- and 6- months. Hep B vaccine is generally given as three shots, at 0-, 1-, and 6-months. The A/B combo vaccine Twinrix also follow the same schedule as the Hep B vaccine. You aren't fully covered for the normal vaccine duration unless you complete the schedule.

(There are accelerated dosage schedules if you have a real need for the vaccines, like working in a high risk area, but these are the normal schedules.)

So, you really have two options:

Start the series more than 6 months before your travels, and have it all done in advance.
Start the series at least one month before your travels, so you at least get the first and second Hep B shots.