One of the well-known Indonesian islands is Bali. The island is well-liked by many local and even foreign tourists for its tourist destinations because of its natural views and stunning landscapes. Beyond its natural beauty, though, certain individuals with weakened immune systems or those who are unfamiliar with the area may find Bali to be a nightmare. Like a lot of developing nations, Indonesia is susceptible to the spread of some diseases. This makes visiting Bali concerning because it increases the likelihood that visitors may become ill quickly while there. As a result, before traveling, it is advised to learn more about the diseases that are common in Bali. You can then take precautions to avoid becoming sick while traveling.
See your doctor at least one month prior to your trip to obtain any necessary vaccinations or medications. Check the list of vaccines and medications. Prior to every trip, make sure you are up to date on all recommended vaccinations. Some of these vaccines include:
Routine Vaccine
Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries. The routine vaccines you need before travel may depend on your age, health, and vaccine history. You may need to get an accelerated dose of a vaccine or a booster dose before traveling. Routine vaccinations related to travel may include the following:
Chickenpox (Varicella)
CDC recommends two doses of chickenpox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults who have never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated.
Who Needs Chickenpox Vaccine
Children under age 13 years should get two doses:
First dose at age 12 through 15 months.
Second dose at age 4 through 6 years.
The second dose may be given at an earlier age if it is given at least 3 months after the first dose.
People 13 years of age and older who have never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine should get two doses, at least 28 days apart. Chickenpox vaccination is especially important for; healthcare professionals, people who care for or are around other people whose body is less able to fight germs and sickness (weakened immune system), teachers, childcare workers, residents and staff in nursing homes and other residential settings, college students, inmates and staff of correctional institutions, military personnel, non-pregnant women of child-bearing age, adolescents and adults living with children and international travelers.
People should check with their doctor about whether they should get chickenpox vaccine if they:
Have HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system.
Are being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer.
Have any kind of cancer.
Are getting cancer treatment with radiation or drugs.
Recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products.
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
CDC recommends diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination for everyone.
Babies need 3 shots of DTaP to build up high levels of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. Then, young children need 2 booster shots to maintain that protection through early childhood. CDC recommends shots at the following ages; 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 through 18 months and 4 through 6 years.
Preteens should get one shot of Tdap between the ages of 11 and 12 years to boost their immunity. Teens who didn’t get Tdap as a preteen should get one shot the next time they visit their doctor.
All adults who have never received one should get a Tdap shot. This can be given at any time, regardless of when they last got Td. This should be followed by either a Td or Tdap shot every 10 years.
Because of age or health conditions, some people should not get certain vaccines or should wait before getting them. For example;
-Has had an allergic reaction after a previous shot of any vaccine that protects against tetanus or diphtheria, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies
-Has ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (also called “GBS”)
-Has had severe pain or swelling after a previous shot of any vaccine that protects against tetanus or diphtheria
-Is not feeling well
-Doctors should not give DT to anyone aged 7 years or older. Talk to your child’s doctor about how your child can catch-up on their immunization schedule.
-Doctors should not give Td to anyone younger than age 7 years.
Flu (Influenza)
Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. Different influenza (flu) vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people. Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a person’s age, health (current and past) and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components.
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles is by getting vaccinated. You should plan to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before you depart. If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you’re not protected against measles, you should still get a dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine protects against all 3 diseases. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles. One dose provides 93% protection. Call your doctor, your local health department, or locate a pharmacy or clinic near you to schedule an appointment for a MMR vaccine. CDC does not recommend measles vaccine for infants younger than 6 months of age.
Shingles
CDC recommends that adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix, as they have a higher risk of getting shingles and related complications.
Polio
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and potentially deadly disease. It is caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body). There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with safe and effective vaccination. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000. It is given by shot in the arm or leg, depending on the person’s age. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is used in other countries.
COVID-19
All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
Hepatitis A
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Indonesia. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given. Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to Indonesia.
Japanese Encephalitis
Recommended for travelers who
Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis
Consider vaccination for travelers :
Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there
Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season.
Malaria
CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Indonesia take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.
Measles
Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.
Polio
In Indonesia poliovirus has been identified in the past year. Travelers to Indonesia are at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus. Adults traveling to Indonesia who received a complete polio vaccination series as children may receive a single lifetime booster dose of inactivated polio vaccine; travelers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should receive a complete polio vaccination series before travel.
Rabies
Rabid dogs are commonly found in Indonesia. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Indonesia, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available. Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife. Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include; campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens, visitors to rural areas. Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Indonesia.
Typhoid
Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Yellow Fever
Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission.
Before you travel, take steps to prepare so you can stay safe and healthy during your trip.
Verify that you have received all recommended routine vaccinations.
Immunizations against infectious diseases like measles, which can spread quickly among unvaccinated populations, are prevented by routine vaccinations. While not common in your country of origin, many diseases that can be prevented with routine vaccination are nonetheless common in other nations.
Be Aware of Your Health
Schedule a visit with your physician or travel health specialist at least 30 days prior to your departure. They can help you obtain information, medications, and vaccinations specific to your destination. Your healthcare professional can offer specific guidance and recommendations if they are aware of your health issues, travel schedule, and scheduled activities.
Take prescribed medications as instructed.
Take any medication that your doctor prescribes for you according to the directions before, during, and after your trip. Only take medication that you bring from home, and make sure to pack enough for the duration of your trip plus extra in case of travel delays, as counterfeit drugs are common in some countries.
Make Emergency Plans
Unexpected problems can arise while traveling. Before you depart, find out what steps you can take to ensure the safety of both you and your fellow travelers. Obtain travel insurance and find out whether overseas medical care is covered by your health insurance. In most cases, travelers must cover their own hospital and other medical costs while visiting most places. In case you require medical attention abroad, make sure you have a plan in place. Think about purchasing additional insurance that includes emergency evacuation and medical coverage, particularly if you will be visiting remote areas. Travel insurance comes in a variety of forms, including medical evacuation, travel health, and trip cancellation insurance.
In case you misplace your essential travel documents—such as your itinerary, contact details, credit card information, passport, and proof of school enrollment—leave duplicates with a family member or friend back home. Make sure your home is equipped with a contact person's emergency information. Always keep your emergency contacts close at hand.
Prepare a travel health kit
Things you might need, particularly those that might be hard to find where you are going. Put your over-the-counter and prescription medications in a travel health kit and make sure you have enough for the duration of your trip, plus extra in case of delays. Depending on where you're going, you might also want to bring a mask, bug repellent, sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher), aloe vera, hand sanitizer with alcohol, tablets for water disinfection, and your health insurance card.