How to Get Immunizations for Mozambique

A former Portuguese colony, Mozambique is recovering from a civil war. Located on the Indian Ocean in southern Africa, Mozambique blends beaches and local culture with a colonial heritage. To get immunizations for a visit to Mozambique, follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Discuss with a physician whether to take antibiotics for plague prevention. Plague has appeared in a recent outbreak in Mozambique, but travelers are usually at low risk. Check the CDC website and World Health Organization (WHO) website for current information about the location of plague outbreaks.

2. Begin the immunization process early; vaccines require time to become effective. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to departure. The CDC's website also posts current recommended and required vaccinations for traveling to Mozambique. Recommended are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, polio and typhoid in addition to routine vaccinations. Check regularly with the CDC website for any change in the recommendations and requirements.

3. Get all routine immunizations current. These vaccinations include diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), polio, influenza, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) and chickenpox. Obtain boosters from your family physician.

4. Ask a medical doctor about taking preventatives. All areas of Mozambique are risk areas for malaria. Take the medication according to doctor's instructions. Anti-malarial drugs effective in Mozambique are atovaquone/ proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Chloroquine is not effective in Mozambique; it should not be used to prevent malaria when visiting this country. Take the medication according to doctor's instructions and purchase it in the U.S. Begin taking atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline 1 to 2 days before arriving in a malaria risk area. Start mefloquine 1 week before traveling to a malaria risk area. Continue for up to 4 weeks after leaving, based on the doctor's recommendation.

5. Check the itinerary. Mozambique is not in the yellow fever endemic zone but its neighbor, Tanzania is in the zone. A yellow fever vaccination certification is not required for Mozambique unless arriving from a country where yellow fever is present. If traveling to Mozambique from a yellow fever area, obtain an International Certification of Vaccination (ICV) for yellow fever. The certificate must be issued at least 10 days before arrival and is good for 10 years. The CDC has a list of yellow fever immunizations clinics and a list of yellow fever areas.

6. Learn to prevent insect bites, which may transmit malaria and other insect-carried diseases. Dengue, leishmaniasis, filariasis and river blindness (onchocerciasis) occur in East Africa. African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is endemic to Mozambique. To reduce the risk of insect bites, wear long sleeves, long pants and hats when outdoors. Use insect repellent and sleep under netting when indoors. Stay indoors during dawn and dusk; these are the peak biting times.

Tips & Warnings

• The CDC recommends seeing a medical doctor who specializes in travel medicine. A list of travel medicine clinics appears on the CDC website.
• The U.S. State Department issues warnings, bulletins and alerts for U.S. citizens traveling abroad and a Consular Information Sheets on every country. Check the State Department periodically before traveling for updated information on travel to Mozambique.
• Other medications, even those bought over-the-counter, such as medicine for diarrhea, may be useful when visiting Mozambique. Talk to a physician about suggestions for other medications.
• Always tell the doctor about a suppressed immune system and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. This may alter the immunization procedures. Children's immunizations differ from adults; speak with a doctor about children's vaccinations.

Resources

• Visit the CDC website.
• Visit the World Health Organization website.
• Check the U.S. State Department website.

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