How to Get Immunized for South Africa

From the sunny beaches of Cape Town to the numerous national parks teeming with wildlife, few people leave South Africa feeling disappointed. This is a country rich in culture and history. Before traveling to South Africa, protect yourself against Hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria and other illnesses.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website to obtain the most recent list of recommended immunizations and to find out how far in advance the vaccinations are needed. Hepatitis A is recommended for all travelers except young children and pregnant women. Get immunized for typhoid, especially if traveling to villages and smaller cities.

2. Review the status of your routine immunizations. Tetanus is needed once every 10 years. Get the booster for Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR), unless you are pregnant, if you have never received a second vaccination. If you will have contact with local residents, get the Hepatitis B immunization.

3. Find out what the malaria situation is for South Africa at the World Health Organization(WHO) website. Malaria is present in the Mpumalanga Province, Northern Province (Limpopo), northeastern Kwa- Zulu-Natal and in Kruger National Park.

4. Call your physician at least 2 months prior to your trip to schedule the immunizations at the optimum time before departure. Receive Hepatitis A and other immunizations 2 months before travel.

5. Visit your physician at the properly scheduled times for the various vaccinations. Many combination vaccinations are available, such as hepatitis A+B and hepatitis A+typhoid, to reduce the number of pricks. Oral medications are available for typhoid and malaria prevention.

Tips & Warnings

• Get immunized for rabies when hiking or camping in rural areas.
• Don't take an anti-malaria drug, such as Chloroquine, that's not effective in South Africa.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter South Africa when traveling from a country where there's a risk of contracting yellow fever.

Resources

• Health information for travel to South Africa
• Health alerts for South Africa