Your bags are packed, passports stamped with the appropriate visas and your mother is lined up to take care of the dog and feed the fish while you’re gone. You have purchased 20 kilos of colouring books, crayons and story books to keep the children busy during the long flight and arranged an itinerary that would make the Prime Minister’s administrative assistant jealous with its precision.
All that remains is for you to work out how you will handle the risk of all those diseases you have been told you may come into contact with on your overseas adventure. After all, you have saved for this trip for over 12 months, spent more than 6 months in planning and are intending to have the time of your life. The last thing you need is for someone to get sick and ruin it all!
So, you contact the nearest travel vaccination clinic only to be told that you can’t get any information over the phone. Instead, you must make an appointment with one of the friendly travel vaccination doctors who work there – an appointment which will not be covered by Medicare – and discover that there is a list of ‘recommended vaccines’ as long as your arm which also will not be covered by Medicare.
There goes the holiday budget! And apart from telling you which vaccines you ‘should’ have, there is very little information available at the clinic on the vaccine ingredients, their side-effects, their effectiveness or the contraindications or reasons why these vaccines may not be appropriate. It has all left you feeling more than a bit uncomfortable and confused. What’s a jet-setter to do?
The only answer is to become informed about both the diseases and the vaccines that are meant to prevent them. In addition, you need information on natural ways to prevent and treat these same diseases.
Are any vaccines required?
The Australian government does not require proof of vaccination for either travel out of or re-entry into the country. There may be requirements by some foreign governments however (for instance, Saudi Arabia requires Meningitis vaccination for anyone travelling there  from out of country) and it is up to you as a traveller to contact the country’s consulate general or embassy prior to travelling to find out what the requirements would be. If there is a mandatory vaccination requirement for a specific country, there will often be valid medical or philosophical exemptions available for travellers so be sure to ask about this so you will know what your rights are.
The only disease which may give you trouble upon your return to Australia is Yellow Fever (see description below). The Australian government requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for anyone living North of Sydney (because the mosquitoes which carry the disease cannot live South of this area) if they are returning from a country where the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Yellow Fever to be endemic. If you do not have this proof, you will be required to report any symptoms of Yellow Fever to the government within 14 days of your return to Australia and may be required to be under house quarantine until all symptoms have passed.
Other than that, there are absolutely no requirements and it is up to you to decide how you will protect your health while on the road. In the meantime, what follows is a list of the recommended travel vaccines, a short description of the diseases and a bit of information on natural protection. Please  note that the AVN has just produced a travel vaccination information pack which you can purchase for $27.50 (please see the book list at the end of this issue or visit our website) which has much more detailed information on all of these issues.
Be aware that:
• There are homoeopathic preventatives for every single disease for which a vaccination is recommended or available. There are even homoeopathic preventatives for diseases which we do not currently have vaccines against such as malaria.
• Many of these illnesses have been successfully dealt with for hundreds or thousands of years using indigenous remedies. Allopathic medicine has tended to ignore or overlook these treatments in its search for drugs and vaccines. Herbal, Naturopathic, Ayurvedic to name just a few modalities can offer very effective and safe treatments and preventatives so it would be a good idea to speak with an experienced practitioner about your options.
• It is your right to request a copy of the manufacturer’s package insert for all drugs and vaccines you are considering. If your doctor or pharmacist does not have this information available (and they should do), you can find most vaccine package inserts on the AVN’s website  (http://www.avn.org.au) under the heading Vaccination Information. This will include information on ingredients and side effects which you must see before making your decision.
Viral Diseases:
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis is a virus which can cause an infection of the liver. Hep B is just one of these viruses and is spread by unprotected sex contact and the sharing of needles by intravenous drug users. Health professionals are also at an increased risk of contracting Hep B via needle-stick injuries. Since this is a disease which cannot be contracted via casual contact, a traveller is at no more risk of contracting Hep B than they would be at home and risky behaviours such as casual sex and IV drug use will put them at risk no matter where they are. By simply not participating in these risky behaviours, you negate the need for vaccination.
More than ninety-five percent of those who contract Hep B will recover without any long-term health issues and will be immune to further infections for life.
The vaccine itself, which is genetically engineered using yeast cultures, has long been linked with a raft of serious adverse reactions such as chronic arthritis, nerve damage including optic neuritis, paralysis and multiple sclerosis. Please see the AVN’s Hep B information pack for further information.
Hepatitis A
Hep A is also a cause of viral hepatitis. It is most often caused by poorly prepared food and the eating of products such as raw shellfish which were sourced from unclean waters. Hep A is almost always self-limiting and generally does not cause chronic disease. Once a person has been infected with Hep A, they will be immune for life.
In the US where a vaccine has been available since the early 1990’s, the rate of infections with Hep A has remained unchanged. Ensuring that you are careful with the food you eat and the water you drink is the best way to prevent infection with Hep A.
The Hepatitis A shots are all live-virus vaccines which can not only cause Hep A infections in those who receive them but can also cause the vaccine recipient to become infectious and to transmit the virus to those they are in close contact with. They contain high levels of aluminium hydroxide, formaldehyde and antibiotics amongst other toxic additives.
Polio
Polio is an enteric (stomach) virus which, in almost every case, causes gastric symptoms which pass quickly and without long-term effects, leaving the person immune to polio for life. A very small percentage (less than 1%) of those infected with polio, may develop paralysis which will generally pass over time, leaving only a small number with any ongoing health problems.
There are two vaccines against polio – one is a live virus (OPV) and the other is a killed virus vaccine (IPV). Both of these vaccines are cultured on monkey kidney and lung tissue and are known to be contaminated with up to 60 monkey-derived viruses – several of which have been linked with cancer in humans.
Since polio disease is generally very mild, prevention may not be necessary. In addition, use of the live virus vaccine can cause polio in the vaccine recipient and their close contacts. Good hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent infection by the virus which is carried in the throat and gut and can be spread via exposure to coughing and sneezing as well as faeces. Since polio virus exists in just about every water system in Australia, there is no evidence that travelling will increase your risk of exposure.
Water-borne diseases:
Typhoid Fever,
Typhoid fever is a water-borne bacterial illness which is generally found in countries where clean water is not readily available. Typhoid can be prevented by ensuring that only bottled water is drunk, fruit and vegetables are cooked rather than eaten raw and teeth are brushed in bottled water. In general, a person who is infected with typhoid cannot pass the disease on to someone else though there have been reports in the last century of people who became ‘carriers’ of this disease and who, despite no symptoms or signs of illness, were able to transmit the sickness to others (eg. Typhoid Mary).
The typhoid vaccine’s stated effectiveness ranges from a low of 51% to a high of 67%, making it an extremely ineffective shot  . For this low effectiveness, there is a very high rate of reactivity and the vast majority of these vaccines are not recommended for those under 6 or over 60 years of age so if you will be taking this vaccine, be sure to read the manufacturer’s information carefully first.
Cholera
Cholera is another water-borne illness caused by the bacterium, Vibrio cholera. In an already ill individual, cholera infections can be life-threatening. In those who are well-nourished however, infection is generally free of severe symptoms and can be easily prevented by the simple precautions described above.
Symptoms of infection can include watery diarrhoea, vomiting and leg cramps and if untreated, can lead to dehydration.
According to the most optimistic estimates of the CDC, the effectiveness of cholera vaccination is only 50%.  The same source states that, “The risk of cholera to U.S. travellers is so low that the vaccine is not likely to benefit most U.S. travellers. Persons using standard tourist accommodation in countries affected by cholera are at virtually no risk of infection. The traveller’s best protection against cholera, as well as against many other enteric diseases, is to avoid food and water that might be contaminated.” There is no reason to assume that the situation would be any different for Australians travelling overseas.
Mosquito-borne illnesses:
Following is a list of the illnesses which are spread by the bite of mosquitoes. Your risk of infection with these illnesses can be reduced by avoiding skin exposure during the early morning and late afternoon - times when mosquitoes are most likely to be swarming. Application of a good natural insect repellent is also helpful (avoid any repellents which contain DEET as this has been linked with both cancer and brain injuries). Wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants when out and about after dark is also advisable. Also ensuring that your rooms are properly screened and, if not, that you travel with a good mosquito net for protection at night is an excellent preventative.
Japanese Encephalitis (JE)
This is an illness which can occur in some tropical countries – especially some parts of China and Southeast Asia. Mosquitoes can pick the virus up from biting native pigs and wild birds and then transmit it to humans via their bite. The majority of those who are exposed to JE never develop symptoms or illness. In some cases however, infection can lead to encephalitis or swelling of the brain. This may be indicated by severe headaches, high fever, neck stiffness, etc. According to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the case fatality rate for JE can range from .03% to 60% - a range which is so wide as to defy any pretence of a true statistical basis.
Yellow Fever
Made famous (or perhaps, infamous) by the experience of those North Americans who went to Panama to help Teddy Roosevelt dig the Panama Canal, Yellow Fever used to have a very high death rate and is still endemic in certain areas of South America and Southern Africa. It is spread by mosquitoes who bite monkeys and spread the illness to humans through their bite.
Whilst the vast majority of those who are infected with Yellow Fever have very mild symptoms, there can in some rare instances be a more severe illness with symptoms of high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and backache. These can lead to liver problems causing jaundice which is where Yellow Fever originally got its name. These outcomes are thankfully very rare in healthy, well-nourished people. There are a range of natural therapies which have been shown to both prevent and treat Yellow Fever very effectively. Please consult with your practitioner on your options.
The Yellow Fever vaccine which is available in Australia does contain mercury in the form of Thiomersal.
Malaria
Malaria is caused by a parasite which is injected into a person via the bite of an infected mosquito. This can be a very serious illness whose symptoms can emerge any time from 10 days to 1 year after exposure. These symptoms can include recurring fevers, shaking and chills and, if untreated, can lead to death due to dehydration and kidney failure.
The  drug-based prophylaxis (there is no malaria vaccine at the present time though there are several vaccination candidates which are currently in development) has been plagued with problems. In fact, so many people have developed severe neuropsychiatric symptoms and experienced psychotic episodes after taking these products that a class action lawsuit is ongoing in the UK which is seeking compensation on their behalf.
Luckily, the most effective treatment and preventative for malaria is a natural product called artemesia or wormwood which has been used for thousands of years in both Africa and Asia. It can be administered as a tincture, a homoeopathic remedy or a herbal mixture. According to the New Scientist magazine, “A derivative from a traditional Chinese remedy is an effective cure for nearly nine out of ten people infected with drug-resistant malaria, according to the results of a two-year trial carried out in Thailand. Artemisinin, or qinghaosu, the crude extract of Artemisia annua, was first recorded in an apothecary's list as a prescription for '52 kinds of disease' in 168 BC. The trial in Thailand used artemether, a more active derivative of the herb.”
Bacterial diseases:
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is known as the scourge of the nineteenth century and killer of millions of Europeans and North Americans living in cramped and unhygienic conditions. In recent years, it has become very rare in the cleaner and more developed twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Unfortunately, newer and more virulent strains are said to have emerged which we are told can be much more difficult to treat. Also unfortunately, the TB vaccine (called BCG) has an effectiveness rate that ranges from a low of 0% to a high of only 60%. In fact, “About a third of the total trials have shown no protective effect [from the vaccine].”  Because of this low level of effectiveness, the CDC does not recommend that travellers from the US receive the vaccine.
Tetanus
Tetanus is caused by the bacteria, clostridium tetanii, an anaerobic bacterium which is killed by exposure to oxygen. Please refer to the article, Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination,  in Vol 5 No 2 of Informed Voice for a detailed analysis of this vaccination.
In general, tetanus is a disease of poor wound hygiene. By ensuring that wounds are thoroughly cleaned in soapy water, that they are allowed to bleed freely prior to bandaging (and that bleeding is actually induced in the case of deep puncture wounds) and that a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide is applied to force oxygen into the wound, the risk of tetanus infection is virtually nil.
There are several homoeopathic remedies which are specific for tetanus infections. Ledum is one and Apis is another. For further information, consult with a homoeopathic practitioner.
In conclusion, we all want to have happy, healthy holidays full of memories we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Whilst we are told that vaccination is the best way to ensure this result, the balance of evidence indicates that there are valid questions about both the safety and effectiveness of travel vaccines.
If you are planning a trip overseas, travel safe by become informed well before you leave Australia and whatever you decide regarding protection from disease, may your trip be healthy, safe and memorable in the very best of ways!