If you're only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you're unlikely to need any vaccinations. But it's still important to check that you're up-to-date with routine vaccinations available on the NHS.
If you're travelling further afield, working or volunteering in places where you may be exposed to serious illnesses, it's a good idea to protect yourself and others against them, for the following reasons:
- Your age and health – you may be more vulnerable to infection than others; some vaccines cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
- Working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
- Working in a medical setting – a doctor, nurse or another healthcare worker may require additional vaccinations
- Contact with animals – you may be more at risk of getting diseases spread by animals, such as rabies
Find out below about the reasons for vaccinations, their symptoms, causes, and effects.