I finally got around to sorting out my vaccinations for the journey to Tanzania. I visited the MASTA website for more information.
MASTA is a global advisory service, established in England in 1984 and in 1988 in Australia, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea. Nice to know the Brits do something really well.
MASTA provides travel health advice to health professionals who use the MASTA service which provides up to date travel health advice for travel itineraries anywhere in the world.
So I ordered my personal Travel Health Brief online for £3.99.
Recommended Vaccinations For my Journey are:
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is usually spread by close contact with infected persons. In the UK, the combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio vaccine is available
Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious infection, usually contracted following contamination of wounds. In the UK, after 5 doses of vaccine, tetanus boosters are not routinely required unless travelling to areas with limited medical care.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection which occasionally causes severe liver disease. It is usually spread by contaminated food and water.
Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection usually spread by contaminated food and water. It can cause serious illness, but vaccines
offer up to 80% protection. Vaccination is generally less important for short-stay travellers staying in good accommodation.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. This disease may only affect part of the country you are visiting, and the risk is highest in rural areas. A certificate will be issued following vaccination which is valid for 10 years. Yellow fever is transmitted by daytime biting
Vaccinations To Be Considered
The requirement for these vaccinations may depend on our activities, lifestyle or length of stay. We are advised to discuss these with our travel health adviser.
Polio
Polio is a viral infection which can sometimes cause paralysis. It is usually spread by contaminated food and water. In the UK most of us are immunised against this..
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection which can cause serious liver disease. It is usually spread sexually and by contact with infected blood or body fluids (e.g. puncture of the skin with contaminated needles).
Rabies
Rabies is a viral infection usually spread by the saliva of infected animals. Human cases are usually due to dog bites but many animals can be infected, and a scratch or lick may be sufficient to transmit the disease. Rabies is fatal once symptoms begin.
Malaria
Malaria is a dangerous disease that is spread by mosquitoes that bite from dusk to dawn.Ways of avoiding mosquito bites:
Use an effective insect repellent and apply it regularly.
Wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers, especially in the evening.
Clear your room at night with a knock-down spray (fly spray).
Plug-in insecticide vapourisers are very effective.
Air conditioning provides an effective deterrent; otherwise consider sleeping under a mosquito net impregnated with residual insecticide.
Geographical Risk:
Tanzania
Outbreaks are occasionally reported year round.
Cholera
Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water. It is rare in travellers, as outbreaks tend to occur in areas with poor sanitation.
An oral vaccine is available for those at risk (e.g. those working in slum areas, refugee camps or hospitals, those visiting friends
and family in areas reporting cases, military personnel in conflict zones, and those visiting rural areas with recent outbreaks).
Tuberculosis (TB)
TB is transmitted by close contact with infected people.
So I visited the nurse at my local medical centre to get some inoculations...and guess what she totally ignored my MASTA report and went online to check what I needed.
Surprise surprise it was exactly the same as my report indicated duhhhhhh. She informed me that I would have to go to a special clinic for the yellow fever jab which I need, but I needed my Hepatitus A renewed which is about to expire. So my left sleeve went up and I got the jab. My other jabs were up to date because I had been to the Dominican Republic two years ago. But poor Jean-Luc he had to take the whole lot.
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