Yellow fever--cause for concern?

Vaccines for foreign travel

Exotic infections are a significant threat to the child traveling to or going to live in the developing world. Vaccines are available that can prevent some of these infections. It is essential that basic routine childhood vaccination be up to date and that necessary modifications be made from the usual schedule in the United States. The current requirements and local disease conditions (both endemic and epidemic) for each country to be visited must be known so that appropriate vaccines are received. Resources for this information are listed. Details for each vaccine are given, including indications, dose, booster, side effects, contraindications, and other specific information.

[Vaccination: 1982 status]

This review discusses the indications for the routine immunizations covered by the Swiss "Immunization Schedule 1981" (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, BCG), as well as the indications for special immunizations (hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococci, rabies, tickencephalitis) and for the immunisations for travellers (cholera, yellow fever, meningococci, typhoid fever). Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella should be given to girls and boys at the age of 18 (to 24) months as a combined injection. In view of the low prevalence of tuberculosis BCG vaccination is justifiable only at school leaving age, if at all. The indications for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are still limited, the value of a general vaccination of all over 65 year old individuals is not proven for either vaccine. A nationwide vaccination campaign against hepatitis B was started early this year with a newly licensed vaccine for all population groups at risk. Only HDC-vaccines should be used for immunisation against rabies. The newly licensed, highly protective oral attenuated live typhoid vaccine will probably replace the parenteral typhoid vaccine.