Immunizations are among the most important and effective ways to prevent travel-related infections. Our research team at Good Caring Canada summarizes the cost of travel vaccines in Ontario.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- 🚽 Cholera and Traveler's Diarrhea
- 🩸 Hepatitis A
- 🩸 Hepatitis B
- 🦟 Japanese Encephalitis
- 🧠 Meningococcal Disease
- 🐶 Rabies
- 🌡️ Typhoid
- 🟡 Yellow Fever
Introduction
Travel vaccinations serve as a crucial preventative measure for individuals traveling internationally, particularly to regions with endemic diseases not commonly found in their home country. These immunizations are designed to fortify the traveler's immune system against specific infectious risks that are prevalent in other parts of the world.
Vaccines work by simulating an infection in the body, which prompts the immune system to respond by producing antibodies. These antibodies provide protection against the actual disease, reducing the risk of the traveler contracting the illness while abroad. Vaccines may be administered in various forms, including injections, oral liquids, drops, or capsules.
It is essential to plan vaccination schedules well in advance of travel—ideally, four to five weeks before departure. This timeframe is crucial because some vaccines require multiple doses spread out over weeks to achieve optimal immunity. Additionally, the body needs time to develop a sufficient antibody response to ensure protection from disease upon reaching the destination.
Given these factors, travelers are advised to consult with healthcare providers or travel medicine specialists to determine the necessary vaccinations based on their itinerary. This preparation not only safeguards the traveler's health but also contributes to the broader public health effort by preventing the spread of infectious diseases across borders.
🚽 Cholera and Traveler's Diarrhea
Dukoral is a vaccine that provides protection against cholera and traveler's diarrhea. The price of Dukoral ranges from $70 to $80 in Ontario.
Travelers' diarrhea is the most frequent health issue faced by individuals traveling from developed to developing countries, often characterized by frequent, loose bowel movements, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. Cholera, a more severe form of diarrhea, presents with extremely watery diarrhea and poses a significant health threat if contracted. Both conditions are typically contracted through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
For those traveling to regions experiencing cholera outbreaks, the risk remains relatively low if they adhere to stringent health precautions. These include practicing good hand hygiene and ensuring food and water safety. The oral vaccine, Dukoral, is available and can significantly reduce the risk of contracting these illnesses.
However, travelers visiting friends and relatives in these regions often face higher risks as they are more likely to consume local food and water, which may not adhere to stringent safety standards. Factors that exacerbate the risk of cholera include overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water and safe food. Most Canadians who contract cholera do so under these conditions, commonly in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, and to a lesser extent, Central and South America.
Risk levels can also spike following natural disasters or civil unrest, which can compromise water and sanitation systems and force people into crowded conditions, such as relief camps. Under such circumstances, consuming raw or inadequately cooked food, drinking untreated water, and neglecting hand hygiene significantly increase the risk of cholera.
Individuals particularly susceptible to severe dehydration from cholera include infants, young children, older adults, and those with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease.
🩸 Hepatitis A
Avaxim and Havrix 1440 are vaccines that provide protection against Hepatitis A. The price of Avaxim or Havrix 1440 ranges from $75 to $100 in Ontario.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection primarily transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water. It is prevalent in many developing or endemic countries where sanitation and hygiene practices are inadequate. For travelers, this virus represents the most common vaccine-preventable disease encountered abroad, particularly when visiting rural areas or regions with poor sanitation facilities.
Individuals are at risk if they have never been infected with hepatitis A or have not been vaccinated against it. While the risk in countries like Canada is low—thanks to robust sewage disposal systems, accessible safe drinking water, and stringent hygiene practices—the risk escalates significantly when traveling to areas with less stringent public health measures.
Regions where hepatitis A is more prevalent include Africa, South America, the Middle East, Central America, and the Indian subcontinent, including countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Even short trips to urban areas in these regions, staying in luxury accommodations, do not entirely mitigate the risk if local food and water safety practices are compromised.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a map indicating countries and areas at risk for hepatitis A, which can be a vital resource for travelers planning their itineraries.
Furthermore, even in settings that appear safe, travelers can increase their risk through certain behaviors such as having close contact with an infected person, using illegal drugs, or being a caregiver to someone with hepatitis A or a recent adoptee from a high-risk country.
Given these risks, vaccination against hepatitis A is highly recommended for travelers to endemic regions. Adhering to strict food and water precautions and practicing good personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently, are also crucial preventive measures.
🩸 Hepatitis B
Engerix B and Recombivax are vaccines that provide protection against Hepatitis B. The price of Engerix B or Recombivax ranges from approximately $50 to $75 in Ontario.
Hepatitis B stands as the most widespread form of hepatitis globally. This virus transmits through sexual contact, blood or bodily fluid exchange, or via objects contaminated by bodily fluids. Consequently, vaccination is advised for all individuals who might engage in activities during travel that increase their risk of exposure to the virus.
Many individuals with hepatitis B experience either no symptoms or only mild ones. However, those who do show symptoms of an acute infection may not see them until two to six months after exposure. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, dark urine, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, clay-colored bowel movements, and jaundice.
Approximately 90% to 95% of adults with acute hepatitis B will naturally clear the virus within six months and subsequently develop lifelong immunity. However, a certain percentage of infected individuals—particularly children under the age of four—will not clear the virus and will progress to chronic hepatitis B. Infants up to 12 months old have a 90% to 95% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, while children aged one to four have a 25% to 50% chance.
Chronic hepatitis B often remains undiagnosed, and if left untreated, it can lead to severe health issues such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. While there is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B, antiviral medications may be used to manage some chronic cases.
Given the significant health risks associated with hepatitis B, travelers should consider vaccination as a critical preventive measure, especially if they plan to engage in high-risk activities or travel to areas where the virus is prevalent.
🦟 Japanese Encephalitis
Ixiaro is a vaccine that provides protection against Japanese Encephalitis. The price of Ixiaro ranges from $230 to $300 in Ontario.
Japanese encephalitis is a significant health concern for travelers to Asia, particularly in rural and agricultural settings. This viral disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily affects temperate regions during the late summer and early fall and tropical areas sporadically throughout the year. Areas with extensive irrigation and rice cultivation are particularly susceptible due to the conducive breeding grounds they provide for mosquitoes.
For travelers, the risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis increases under specific conditions. Those spending extended periods, typically a month or more, in high-prevalence areas during the transmission season are particularly vulnerable. The risk is further accentuated for travelers engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and camping, or those involved in fieldwork in rural regions.
The mosquitoes carrying this virus are most active from sunset to sunrise, heightening exposure during these hours. While the overall risk to travelers remains low, particularly for those who stay within urban environments, preventive measures including vaccination are advised for those traveling to affected areas. This vaccine is recommended for anyone three months of age and older who will be traveling to regions where the disease is common.
In severe cases, Japanese encephalitis has a fatality rate of 20% to 30%, and it more frequently results in serious complications among infants and the elderly. As such, understanding the geographical and seasonal patterns of this disease is crucial for travelers to make informed health decisions while planning their trips to Asia. more likely to develop severe disease.
🧠 Meningococcal Disease
Menveo is a vaccine that provides protection against meningococcal disease. The price of Menveo ranges from $150 to $160 in Ontario.
Meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, poses a heightened risk to children and individuals with compromised immune systems. The disease is most effectively prevented through vaccination, specifically with the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), recommended for those 55 years and younger. This vaccine protects against four types of meningococcal disease.
Transmission of meningococcal disease occurs through prolonged, close contact with an infected individual. Common vectors include saliva and nasal secretions exchanged during activities like kissing, sneezing, or sharing utensils. Although most exposed individuals do not become infected, they can carry and spread the bacteria asymptomatically.
For most travelers, the risk of contracting meningitis remains low. However, specific groups face higher risks, especially when traveling to areas with known outbreaks or endemic conditions. These groups include healthcare workers or those interacting closely with the local population in regions like the sub-Saharan African meningitis belt, which experiences outbreaks typically from December to June. Additionally, attending crowded events or large gatherings, such as the Hajj pilgrimage, can increase exposure risk.
Globally, meningococcal disease shows seasonal patterns. In temperate climates, outbreaks tend to occur during winter, while in tropical regions, they are more common during the dry season.
🐶 Rabies
Imovax Rabies and Rabavert are vaccines that provide protection against rabies. The price of Imovax Rabies or Rabavert ranges from $245 to $305 in Ontario.
Rabies is a severe viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, prevalent globally except in Antarctica. It predominantly spreads when the virus from an animal's saliva enters a person’s nervous system via a bite, scratch, or contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. The disease is fatal once symptoms appear, underscoring the critical importance of prevention and early treatment.
Travelers, especially those planning to live or work in regions where rabies is common and animal control programs are lacking, should strongly consider receiving a rabies vaccine. This recommendation extends to children, who are particularly vulnerable due to their playful nature and likelihood of not avoiding animals.
The risk of contracting rabies increases with certain activities that involve close contact with animals, such as cave exploration, camping, or hiking. Regions such as Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean report the highest incidences, with dogs being the primary transmitters. In contrast, in North America, Australia, and Western Europe, bat-transmitted rabies poses a significant threat.
🌡️ Typhoid
Typhim VI and Vivotif are vaccines that provide protection against typhoid. The price of Typhim VI or Vivotif ranges from $48 to $75 in Ontario.
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease transmitted through contaminated food and water, posing significant risks particularly in regions with poor sanitation practices. Travelers heading to smaller cities, villages, or rural areas in countries with a high incidence of typhoid, such as parts of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, should consider vaccination, especially if staying longer than four weeks.
The risk of contracting typhoid is generally low in areas where there is access to clean water, safe food-handling practices, high standards of cleanliness, and proper sewage disposal. However, the likelihood increases in places with poor sanitation, inadequate food safety measures, and limited clean water access. Visitors to these high-risk areas often include those traveling to visit friends and relatives, who might be more exposed to local conditions that facilitate the spread of typhoid.
Typhoid is primarily spread through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with Salmonella typhi bacteria. Common sources include milk products, shellfish from polluted waters, and produce grown in soil fertilized with human feces. Additionally, it can spread through direct contact with the feces of an infected person.
Travelers who have weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to severe forms of the illness. Even after symptoms cease, infected individuals can continue to spread the bacteria. Some become carriers, harboring the bacteria without feeling sick, yet still capable of infecting others.
🟡 Yellow Fever
YV-VAX is a vaccine that provides protection against yellow fever. The price of YV-VAX ranges from $199 to $245 in Ontario.
Yellow fever, a serious viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, is prevalent in certain regions of Africa, Central America, and South America. The disease is named for one of its most distinctive symptoms, jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eyes. This condition results from the virus's impact on the liver.
For travelers nine months and older heading to yellow fever endemic areas, vaccination is strongly recommended and often required. Many countries mandate a valid International Certificate of Vaccination for entry, especially if travelers have visited or transited through yellow fever zones. The need for vaccination is not just a matter of personal health but also a compliance requirement, as failure to present proof of immunization can result in denied entry.
The risk of contracting yellow fever varies based on several factors, including the specific destination, season of travel, duration of stay, and the nature of activities planned. Those venturing beyond urban areas into rural or jungle locations or participating in outdoor activities like hiking or camping are at increased risk.
Transmission occurs through the bite of infected mosquitoes, predominantly the Aedes species in Africa and the Haemagogus species in South America. These mosquitoes are most active during the day, particularly around dawn and dusk.