All common childhood vaccinations are recommended for travel within Africa; these include vaccinations for rubella, measles, mumps, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria and tetanus. Your family doctor should be able to inform you as to whether you have had these vaccinations. Most children born in the United States are given these.
Aside from the common childhood vaccinations, there are several highly recommended vaccinations for travel in any country in Africa. These include vaccinations for meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid and hepatitis A.
Before travel in Africa, it is important to check with local authorities and the US Embassy in the country you are visiting for recent updates of health concerns. While the aforementioned vaccinations are the most highly recommended for travel in any African country, each region is different, carrying different health concerns; therefore, it is important check on immunization updates in specific countries before travel.
