Many people tend to forget packing the necessary health-related items before travelling to their destination. But let me remind you that just like your other travelling stuff, it is extremely important to consider your medical aids as well. Here, I am talking about your travel vaccine checklist before travelling to Kenya with family. It is always the best to be prepared in advance to treat certain illnesses and injuries that are pretty common in Kenya. We have listed below a number of travel vaccinations that you must add to your checklist before you plan your travel to Kenya. These are as follows:
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Travel Vaccinations Checklist Before Visiting Kenya
Routine vaccines
All the travellers should make sure that they are up-to-date on routine vaccines before planning a trip. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, varicella (chickenpox), vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, polio vaccine and yearly flu shot are some of these vaccines.
Typhoid
There is a higher risk of typhoid in Kenya which one can get through contaminated food and water. Thus, CDC highly recommends this vaccine for most of the travellers and especially when one is visiting in a rural area of Kenya.
Hepatitis A
This is because one can get Hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Kenya and thus CDC highly recommends this vaccine.
Some travellers must ask their doctors about the vaccines and medicines that they will need, in case they are travelling from some other country than US. This will be based on the duration of your stay, the place you are visiting and what you will be doing there.
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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is spread through sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood products. This vaccine is thus recommended by CDC, if you get a tattoo or piercing or have sex with a new partner.
Yellow fever
There is a high risk of yellow fever in most parts of Kenya, thereby travellers 9 months of age or older are recommended this vaccine by CDC.
Moreover, the government of Kenya will also require a proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are travelling to Kenya from a country where its risks are higher.
Polio
If you have been working in a health care facility, humanitarian aid setting, refugee camp, you may be prescribed a polio vaccine before your trip.
- If you have received a polio vaccination in your childhood but haven’t got a polio booster dose as an adult, you must get one.
- And if you haven’t received complete vaccinations in your childhood, consult your doctor and talk to him about the same.
Cholera
If you are going to travel an area of active cholera transmission such as counties of Busia, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Garisso, Istolo, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kwale, Machakos, Meru, Mombasa, Murang’a, Nairobi, Nakuru, Siaya, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Wajir and West Pokot of Kenya, you must get a cholera vaccine. However, the risk of getting cholera in travellers is rare but it can be severe at the same time. Thus, one should highly avoid unsafe food and water and always wash their hands or keep a sanitizer with them in order to prevent cholera.
Rabies
Rabies is found in mammals such as dogs or bats, which puts the travellers at higher risk of getting rabies when travelling to Kenya. CDC thus recommends getting a rabies vaccine for:
- People who will be involved or working with animals in Kenya. For instance – wildlife professionals.
- Travellers who will be more of involved in outdoor activities, that will put them at higher risk for animal bites.
- Children who are more likely to get animal bites as they tend to play with animals.
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Conclusion
The following table shows the vaccinations that are required for all, most and some travellers before the trip to Kenya:
| Vaccinations recommended for All travellers | Vaccinations recommended for Most travellers | Vaccinations recommended for Some travellers | |
| Routine vaccines | – | – | |
| – | Typhoid | – | |
| – | Hepatitis A | – | |
| – | – | Hepatitis B | |
| – | – | Yellow fever | |
| – | – | Polio | |
| – | – | Cholera | |
| – | – | Rabies | |
| – | – | – | |
| – | – | – |
Visit your doctor 5-6 weeks before you plan to leave for Kenya and discuss with him/her about all the vaccinations that you or your family may require. Also, you must ask your doctor about the medicines that you should carry along with you to Kenya. This is because you may find it hard to get certain medicines there. Also, search for the current health issues in Kenya and prepare yourself accordingly to avoid any risk of getting the same.
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