Four to six weeks before your trip to Spain, check with your physician to make sure all your routine vaccinations and immunizations are up to date. Although there are no particular problems with the diseases these immunization protect against in Spain, the polio vaccine, MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and the DPT vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus should all be current before traveling abroad. Other routine seasonal immunizations, such as the one for influenza, should also be given.
If you're planning an extended visit to a number of rural areas in Spain, consider getting an immunization for hepatitis A. It is one of the many strains of the hepatitis virus, and like most hepatitis strains, it causes an inflammation of the liver. Although most individuals who contract the illness have only mild cases and recover completely, it can be uncomfortable and may ruin your trip if you become ill. Individuals who get hepatitis A normally become infected through contaminated food.
Whenever you travel, there is a chance that an accident can occur. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all individuals traveling to Spain receive an immunization for hepatitis B. It is carried through bodily fluids, like blood, and an individual can become infected while receiving medical care, even in developed countries. It can also be sexually transmitted.
Not everyone needs a rabies vaccination before traveling to Spain, but if there's a chance you might come into contact with bats while you're visiting, you should get it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies vaccinations are recommended for wildlife professionals, researchers, veterinarians and adventure travelers.
