Travel to the Philippines: which vaccines are mandatory or recommended?

Dear Reader,

It is always complex to answer questions of this kind in an exhaustive manner because a lot depends on the type of journey you intend to undertake, for example whether you will mainly visit inhabited centers or whether you will spend a more or less prolonged stay in marshy areas or forests. My advice, therefore, is to book a visit to a travel medicine center for a complete consultation. On a general level, however, we can say that, in addition to the canonical vaccinations also recommended in Italy, it is advisable to carry out a tetanus and diphtheria booster if more than 10 years have passed since the last administration. Vaccination against hepatitis A is certainly indicated, the complete cycle of which involves two doses 6-12 months apart, ensuring coverage that then lasts for over 10 years. Vaccination against typhoid may also be indicated, especially if you are going to rural areas. Rabies vaccination is recommended in specific contexts where it is possible to come across sick animals, but the risk is low in residential areas. Furthermore, a consultation with a specialist will be able to indicate whether it is appropriate to proceed with antimalarial prophylaxis and vaccination for Dengue fever, which is recommended if you have already contracted the disease in the past and remain for a long time in highly endemic areas. To protect yourself from insects, in any case, it is recommended to wear covering clothing and use repellents.

You can send your questions to vaccini@gedi.it

*Massimo Andreoni is Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Diseases. He is scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit).

The information provided is intended for informational purposes only: it does not represent medical advice in any way and cannot replace diagnoses or treatment indications recommended by your doctor or a specialist.