Before traveling, you should definitely find out what you will need in the way of vaccinations for Kenya.  Many foreign countries will require some type of health consideration and tourism in Kenya is no exception.  Why is this?  Oftentimes, third-world countries do not have the same infrastructure as modernized ones.  This means that they may not have the same degrees of disease prevention services such as water filtration and medicines, usually due to the prohibitive costs and the poor economies of these countries.

Vaccinations for Kenya – Who Needs Them

Anyone traveling to Kenya should prepare for their trip by checking vaccinations for Kenya recommendations.  This can change from time to time, depending on any outbreaks that can be occurring.  There are two recommended ways to find out what vaccinations for Kenya that you will need.  The first is to visit a local travel clinic.  These clinics are typically up-to-date with all of the requirements and can tell you what you will need, as well as the time frames that these medicines should be administered in.  Some vaccinations for Kenya are given by injections, while some are taken orally.  Travel clinics will advise you of specific dates, provide prescriptions if necessary, and also administer injections.

In addition to this information, they will typically also guide you in other matters of travel, such as where your country embassy is located and general safety guidelines.  A good travel clinic is essential for planning travel to Kenya (or any international destination for that matter).

Vaccinations for Kenya – Which Ones?

Again, the travel clinic is the best option to give you definitive answers for this question.  We mentioned earlier in the article that there are two recommended ways to find out which vaccinations for Kenya are currently being recommended.  One, of course, is the travel clinic.  The other way you can learn for sure which immunizations you need is by visiting the CDC’s website.  The CDC is the Centers for Disease Control and they are the authority in determining what is needed in terms of vaccinations for Kenya.  (Most travel clinics use the CDC’s guidelines).

In general, the recommendations for vaccinations for Kenya generally include:

• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)  - usually part of childhood immunizations in the US
• DPT (diphtheria, tetanus)  - usually part of childhood immunizations in the US
• Oral polio – usually part of childhood immunizations in the US
• Hepatitis B – usually part of childhood immunizations in the US if within the last 20 years or so
• Hepatitis A – usually 2 injections so plan appropriately
• Typhoid – can be oral or an injection.  Oral is usually less expensive
• Yellow Fever – during outbreaks, admittance to the country can be denied without this
• Rabies – if you will be in contact with animals

Vaccinations for Kenya – Other Important Issues

Even though it’s not technically an immunization, another health consider that should be discussed is malaria.  No information about vaccinations for Kenya would be complete without mentioning this.  Malaria is not uncommon in Africa, therefore a prophylactic medicine should be considered.  This is usually in the form of a pill and typically will be started a few days before your travel begins and will conclude a few days after you have returned from your trip.  It’s important to take this medicine as prescribed, as malaria can be prevalent in many areas of Kenya and surrounding countries.  (Consider a good mosquito net purchase as well).

Vaccinations for Kenya Recap:

Visit a local travel clinic.
Consult with the CDC website for latest guidelines.
Plan which vaccinations for Kenya you will need in plenty of time.

As you can see, there are quite a few considerations when considering vaccinations for Kenya.  It’s wise to heed the advice of professionals to make your trip more enjoyable.