Vaccination during international travel

Exposure to infectious disease is one of the many health hazards of international travel. Some countries require proof of vaccination for travellers wishing to enter or exit the country. In addition, there are vaccines that are recommended for travelers based on the travel itinerary, activities planned to carry out during travel, and likely risk of disease exposure.

 

Vaccination of Sri Lankan citizens traveling to other countries

It is recommended that travelers review the entry requirements for destination countries before travel. Most vaccines take time to become effective and should be given 4-6 weeks before travel.

 

l  Yellow Fever Vaccine

Yellow fever vaccine is a requirement for persons above 9 months of age, traveling to a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including transit more than 12 hours in an airport located in such a country.

 

For countries determined by World Health Organization to be at risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever follow: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/countries-with-risk-of-yellow-fever-transmission-and-countries-requiring-yellow-fever-vaccination-(november-2022)

 

For more information refer: WHO international travel and Health

 

 Certification of vaccination

Those who received the yellow fever vaccine from a WHO-approved yellow fever vaccination center will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis (ICVP). The only authorized place in Sri Lanka for the administration of this vaccine is the office of the Assistant Port Health Officer, which is housed on the premises of the Medical Research Institute, Colombo 8.

 

l  Meningococcal Vaccination

Mandatory Vaccination against Meningococcal is required by the government of Saudi Arabia for travelers performing Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The vaccine should be administered 10 days before travel and it is effective for 3 years.

WHO recommends vaccination against Meningococcal for those traveling to any of the 26 countries in the meningococcal belt in Sub- Saharan Africa. However, this is optional for travelers visiting these countries. Countries in meningitis belt include Gambia, Senagal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Camaroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Ruwanda, Burundi, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania.

 

 l  Polio vaccination

All travelers to polio-infected countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan) should undergo mandatory vaccination against poliomyelitis before travel.

 

In an adult:

v  One dose of oral polio vaccine or inactivated polio vaccine should be given at least four weeks before international travel.

v  If received the last polio vaccine dose more than one year of international travel, need to re-vaccinate.

v  In the event of urgent travel and has not received polio vaccination within one year, recommend polio vaccination at least by the time of departure.

 

 In a child:

v  All children traveling to polio-infected countries should have completed age-appropriate vaccination according to the national immunization schedule.

v  Any child who has not received any polio vaccination previously should complete the polio vaccination of the national schedule before departure. When vaccinating, it is recommended to keep a minimum one-month interval between each dose and complete at least 4 weeks before departure.

v  Any child who has completed at least 3 doses of polio vaccination but not completed age-appropriate national schedule, an additional polio vaccination dose is recommended at least 4 weeks prior to departure.

 

Prophylaxis for travelers to malaria-endemic countries

Sri Lanka has successfully controlled malaria transmission within the country and was certified by the World Health Organization as a malaria-free country in September 2016. However, malaria is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries and Sri Lankans traveling to these countries are at a high risk of contracting the infection unless they take precautions since they lack immunity against the disease.


  • Depending on the malaria risk in the area to be visited, travelers may need to take preventive medication (chemoprophylaxis) prior to, during, and after returning from their travel.
  • Any traveler planning to visit a malaria-endemic country is advised to contact anti-malaria campaign and seek medical consultation at least 10 days  prior to travel.

For the list of countries with malaria endemicity refer WHO international travel and health guide. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580472


Vaccination of travelers visiting Sri Lanka


l  Yellow fever vaccination

Travelers aged above 1 year from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission including those who have a transit more than 12 hours in an airport located in such country are required to get vaccinated against yellow fever as an entry requirement to Sri Lanka.  (For the list of countries with a risk of malaria transmission, follow: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/countries-with-risk-of-yellow-fever-transmission-and-countries-requiring-yellow-fever-vaccination-(November-2022)

  

l  Travelers from polio infected countries are strongly advised to get vaccinated against polio at least four weeks prior to the visit.

 

Routine vaccination

As a travel requirement, some countries request a vaccination certificate as a proof for the routine vaccines received under the National Program of Immunization.

A certificate confirming the vaccines received under the National Program of Immunization and any other vaccines received (e.g: Covid-19) can be obtained by the area Medical Officer of Health, at the traveler’s request as proof of the up-to-date routine immunization.