Travel Immunizations for People With IBD

You may be surprised to learn that if you're going overseas for a vacation or business, you may need travel immunizations. Making sure your immunizations are up-to-date can help you avoid getting sick while overseas, which is very important when you already have a chronic condition such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

You should schedule a visit to an internist or a travel medicine specialist about 4 to 6 weeks before your scheduled travel date. Depending on your destination and activities, immunizations that you may need or that may need updating include hepatitis A and B; yellow fever; rabies; Japanese encephalitis; typhoid; diphtheria and tetanus; measles, mumps, and rubella; or polio immunizations. Travelers with chronic illness should also check with their doctor regarding preventive measures for malaria and avoiding insect bites.

If you are immunocompromised, you will need to check with your doctor regarding any live vaccines that are recommended for travel. Live vaccines may not be recommended for people who have diseases or are taking drugs that suppress the immune system. People who have IBD are not considered to be immunocompromised. However, people taking immunosuppressant drugs such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporine, and methotrexate are considered to be immunosuppressed. People taking TNF-receptor blockers, such as Remicade and Humira, have specific immune deficiencies and may be at greater risk for certain illnesses (such as tuberculosis).

You may need other immunizations based on the areas to which you are traveling. If you or your doctor are unsure about the immunizations you'll need, check this list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).