abu dhabi health body advises vaccination for summer travellers

 Abu Dhabi (Haad), the healthcare regulator in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is advising all members of the public who intend to travel during the summer, to visit a healthcare centre and get vaccinated two weeks before their departure date. Haad is emphasising the importance of vaccination, both for its protection of travellers from diseases prevalent at their destination countries, as well as for its role in reducing the spread of infectious diseases throughout the rest of the community when travellers return home to the country.



Traveller vaccinations help reduce the risk of contracting a number of common infectious diseases, therefore travellers should make sure to take routine vaccinations included in Haad vaccine record and travel-related vaccines. These vaccines include the meningococcal, influenza, yellow fever, pneumococcal, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Getting the appropriate selection depends on the type and spread of infectious diseases at every destination, and this varies from one country to another.  Dr Farida Al Hosani, Director of the Communicable Diseases Department at Haad, said: “Haad strongly urges all those who intend to travel take the necessary traveller vaccinations, based on each person's travel destination and individual health status. This will help to significantly decrease health risks arising from any infectious diseases they may become exposed to, and prevent complications for the individual and those who surround them.”

Dr Al Hosani added: “Based on our belief that prevention is better than cure, we continue to raise awareness in our community on the importance of taking all preventative measures to reduce the spread of communicable diseases. We ask the community to maintain their health by obtaining the necessary vaccinations, going for routine check-up visits, and ensuring they lead healthier lifestyles.” Haad's efforts to drive vaccination awareness fall under its 'Vaccination is Essential' campaign. The campaign highlights the role vaccines play in disease prevention, and promotes the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages. The campaign is a platform to inform and educate the public on the latest vaccination programmes, including Haad's newly-introduced vaccines.