Nigeria travel vaccine and advise.

The yellow fever vaccine is administered in a single-dose schedule to people aged 9 months old or older.

Travelers should get vaccinated at least ten days prior to travel. Though the vaccine will provide partial protection before the mentioned period, the period of ten days is needed in order to have a valid yellow fever certificate (it is not valid until the 10th day after vaccine administration and this certificate will be most likely checked at the port of entry).

The vaccine has 80-90% and over 99% effectiveness 10 days and 1 month after vaccine administration, respectively. In the majority of cases, the immunity provided by the vaccine is lasts for life.

The infection is transmitted via bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes or Haemagogus species). This mosquitos are mostly found in South America and Africa.

If you know the place that you got the shot from please contact them and ask them about the replacement card.

• No replacement card can be given based on you remembering the fact of getting a shot (each shot has a lot number and expiration date that need to be recorded on the yellow fever card)
• You can choose to get extra shot to obtain a Yellow fever card for traveling. Extra or unnecessary vaccine will not hurt you medically

Two shots of hepatitis A vaccine , are needed, the second 6 to 12 months after the first.

Ideally, a traveler should receive a Hepatitis A (HAV) vaccine more than two weeks before departure. However, it will provide some protection even if it is given less than two weeks before departure.

One dose of the vaccine is more than 95% effective. Two doses are almost 100% effective.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that is transmitted through the following:

• contaminated food
• contaminated water
• oral–anal sexual intercourse

The vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended for friends and family members of people who have hepatitis A, homosexual men, and international travelers visiting any geographical area except the following:

• Canada
• Western Europe & Scandinavia
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Australia

One dose of hepatitis A shot provides protection for at least 10 years. Two doses provide protection for at least 20 to 25 years.

No. It is not recommended that you have your immunity to hepatitis checked unless your vaccination was not given properly.

Yes. It is medically safe to get an extra (unnecessary) dose of hepatitis A vaccine. Some people choose this option to be on the safe side.

Hepatitis A does not usually cause serious long-term health issues, but you might get very sick if you contract it. You will need to see a doctor to be diagnosed properly (mainly to rule out other health conditions). You will recover with supportive treatment and diet. Most people are contagious for two weeks.

Yes. Most people (99.9%) recover without any long-term residual effects on their health. However, this infection is fatal in 0.3%–0.6% of cases. Supportive treatment consists of the following:

• resting
• eating small portions of food and avoiding greasy food as long as you have hepatitis
• avoiding alcohol until your doctor says it is okay to drink
• taking over-the-counter pain medication (but do not take Tylenol or its generic form, acetaminophen)
• avoiding hot baths

You can decrease your chances of contracting hepatitis A by doing the following:

• washing your hands with soap (especially before you eat)
• not eating food prepared by someone with hepatitis A
• drinking safe, adequately chlorinated water
• boiling or cooking what you drink and eat for at least one minute at 185 °F

Please note that alcohol-based sanitizing products provide no hepatitis A protection.

Yes. If you contract hepatitis A, you will probably need to be hospitalized. Medical services outside the United States are not covered by most US health insurance policies. There are various companies that offer travel insurance packages for US travelers. Here are links to some of them:

• WorldMed Insurance
• InterMedical Insurance
• Travel Insurance Select
• World Nomads
• American Visitor Insurance

Be sure to pay attention to and understand policy exclusions and deductible amounts before committing to any insurance plan.

About 90% of adult population of the country are immune to this infection. The latter means that 90% of the population have ever been exposed to the Hepatitis A infection.

The incubation period (the period between being infected and developing the first symptoms) for hepatitis A is an average of four weeks (the range is 14–50 days). Be aware that you will be contagious for two weeks after you get sick.

High! If you get hepatitis A you will be very sick, and you won’t know what is causing your illness so you will need to see a doctor to be diagnosed. Various diseases have similar symptoms, and a doctor will need to examine you and possibly conduct some tests to reach a diagnosis and make a treatment plan. In addition, hepatitis A may (very rarely) cause serious health complications. It is highly recommended that you see your doctor if you think that you may have hepatitis A.

There are two forms of vaccines that protect from typhoid infection: injectable and oral typhoid vaccines. Here are the administration schedules for both types:

Several factors should be considered when choosing between the 2 types of typhoid vaccines. They are summarized below.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that is mainly transmitted through infected food and/or water.

The following groups of people should be immunized against typhoid:

• travelers visiting high-risk geographical areas
• friends and family members of people with typhoid
• laboratory workers who are at risk of typhoid bacteria exposure

It is recommended that travelers get the vaccine at least one month  before departure. However, it will give some protection if it is administered closer to the departure date.

There are some differences in the effectiveness of the two forms of the typhoid vaccines:

• The oral vaccine is about 67%–80% effective.
• The injectable vaccine is about 64%–72% effective.

• Oral vaccine protection lasts five years.
• Injectable vaccine protection lasts two years.

Yes. An extra dose of the typhoid vaccine is not medically harmful. Some people choose to get an extra dose to be on the safe side.

More than 30% of typhoid cases are fatal if untreated. Life-threatening complications of this disease include the following:

• internal bleeding
• gastrointestinal perforation (a hole in the digestive tract)

Yes. The disease can be cured with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, cefazolin, and Zithromax.

To avoid contracting typhoid, it is recommended that travelers do the following:

• eat only hot, well-cooked food
• do not drink raw milk
• make sure any milk products are made of pasteurized milk
• avoid water unless it is boiled or bottled
• wash and peel fruits and vegetables
• wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• if you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol

Yes. If you are not immunized against typhoid and you contract typhoid, you will need to be hospitalized. Medical services outside the United States are not covered by most US health insurance policies. There are various companies that offer travel insurance packages for US travelers. Here are links to some of them:

• WorldMed Insurance
• InterMedical Insurance
• Travel Insurance Select
• World Nomads
• American Visitor Insurance

Be sure to pay attention to and understand policy exclusions and deductible amounts before committing to any insurance plan.

The prevalence (the proportion of the sick people) of typhoid varies between the states of the country. It may be as low as 0.071% (reported in Oyo) and as high as 47.1 (reported in Osun).

The period between exposure to typhoid and the development of the first symptoms (the incubation period) is 10–14 days.

High! You will be very sick and will not know what is causing your symptoms, so you will need to see a doctor to be diagnosed and treated. Various diseases have similar symptoms, and a doctor needs to examine you and conduct some tests to reach a diagnosis and make a treatment plan. In addition, if untreated, typhoid may result in serious health complications. It is highly recommended that you see your doctor if you think that you may have typhoid.

International travelers need 3 doses of rabies vaccine, on the following schedule:

• first vaccination (shot): day 0
• second vaccination: 7 days after the first vaccination
• third vaccination: 21 or 28 days after the first vaccination

The administration of rabies vaccine should be done at least 28 days before departure so the three-dose schedule can be completed. People who are not able to get three doses of the vaccine should not be vaccinated at all.

Pre-exposure rabies vaccine does not completely prevent development of the disease. It is recommended for two reasons:

• People who are vaccinated and then exposed to rabies will not need to receive rabies immune globulin, which should be given on the day of exposure. This fact can be life-saving for people who have traveled to a destination where immune globulin is not readily available. Administration of immune globulin may be delayed for no more than 7 days after exposure.
• People who are vaccinated before exposure will need only two doses of vaccine after an exposure instead of four.

Immunity after rabies vaccination lasts three to five years (for more information click here. However, the following people need a booster dose of the vaccine every six months to two years:

• rabies vaccine production facility employees
• wildlife officers
• veterinarians
• laboratory workers who are exposed to rabies

Rabies is transmitted mainly by the bite of an infected animal (dog, cat, monkey, or bat). People may also be infected if they have an open wound that is exposed to the saliva of an infected animal.

In general, all activities that increase the chances of contact with an infected animal also increase the risk of getting rabies. Here are some examples:

• outdoor activities such as camping, caving, and biking
• working with animals (being a veterinarian or wildlife professional)
• traveling to a high-risk area

Historically, the annual number of rabies cases in Nigeria was about 170 when the total population of the country is over 195 million. As in many countries, in Nigeria, about 94% of all human rabies cases are caused by dogs.

Rabies is an extremely serious, deadly disease. People who get it and are not promptly treated will develop symptoms such as the following:

• weakness
• hallucinations
• abnormal behavior
• hydrophobia (fear of water)

Everyone who develops rabies symptoms will die within seven days.

Three doses of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccines are about 80%–100% effective. Hepatitis B immunity last for 30 years after the completion of the series of three injections.

The immunity lasts for 30 years after the completion of the three-dose series of the Hepatitis B vaccines. One or more adult booster doses of the hepatitis B vaccine is needed only by people who do not have either of the following:

• laboratory evidence of hepatitis B immunity (having been sick or immunized)
• a valid vaccine administration record of having been immunized against hepatitis B

Travelers who can’t find their vaccine administration record have two options:

• Ideally, get tested for the presence of hepatitis B immunity.
• If you are running out of time and want to play it safe, you can get an extra vaccination without long-term health consequences. People choose this option when time is the most important factor in the decision-making process.

If you were vaccinated more than 30 years ago and therefore have an insufficient level of immunity to the hepatitis B virus, you should get a fourth dose (one booster shot) of the vaccine.

Yes. An extra dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be absolutely safe.

To ensure that the vaccine will provide a sufficient level of immunity, it is recommended that a booster dose of the vaccine be given one to six months before departure. However, if you do not have that much time, you may get the booster vaccination as late as one week before departure. In that case, the booster dose will provide about 20.5% protection.

You should first check to see whether you received the hepatitis B vaccine, and if so how many doses you received (ideally you received three doses, with the second and third shots having been given one and six months after the first one).

People who have been vaccinated against hepatitis B are immune for up to 30 years.

Usually, getting tested after completing hepatitis B vaccinations is not recommended. However, some people who are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B (intravenous drug users, healthcare professionals, and sex workers) can get a blood test to be safe.

Hepatitis B is usually transmitted in one of the following ways:

• sexual intercourse
• exposure to infected blood
• exposure to other body fluids (saliva, semen, or vaginal fluids)
• tattoo and piercing

The incubation period (the period between being infected and developing the first symptoms) for hepatitis B is one-and-a-half to six months.

These days, most cases of hepatitis B are curable with very effective antiviral medication. However, hepatitis B may lead to serious complications, such as the following:

• cirrhosis (liver scarring)
• liver cancer
• liver failure
• death

If you not sure about your hepatitis B status, you can minimize your risk of contracting hepatitis B by

• practicing protected sex,
• never sharing needles, and
• covering sores and wounds with a waterproof dressing.

Some people are at increased risk of contracting malaria:

• infants
• children 5 years old and younger
• pregnant women
• people with HIV/AIDS
• international travelers

According to the CDC, all the areas of Nigeria are considered as high-risk in terms of malaria acquisition.

In Nigeria, the annual number of malaria cases exceeds 100 million. Sadly, about 300,000 of these patients die from malaria-resulted health complications (2011 data).

In Nigeria, you can get malaria anytime during the year. However, the peak of its transmission occurs from May to October.

It is more likely to be bitten by the Malaria transmitting mosquitos during the night (from midnight to early morning).

The malaria prophylaxis medication are only needed for travelers visiting the high-risk areas for malaria acquisition.

The list of the malaria medications that CDC recommends for these areas are the following:

1. Atovaquone + Proguanil (Malarone)
2. Doxycycline (Vibramycin-D)
3. Mefloquine (Lariam)
4. Tafenoquine

Please note that travelers visiting low-risk areas should still practice mosquito avoidance.

When it comes to malaria prophylaxis, we recommend Malarone to most people traveling to Nigeria because it has fewer side effects and is convenient. However, all three options are available and they are equally effective.

The table below describes the main side effects of each antimalarial drug.

The table below summarizes the important characteristics (potential side effects and convenience) of each of the anti-malaria medications. It will help you choose the best prophylaxis medication for you.

One shot of meningitis vaccine is administered at least 10 days before the international travel.

It is recommended to get vaccinated at least 7-10 days before your departure. However, you will still get some protection if administered closer to your departure date.

After 10 days of vaccination, the effectiveness of the meningococcal vaccine reaches 90%.

The duration of post-vaccination immunity depends on the type of vaccine. The conjugate vaccine provides adequate protection for 5 years after the administration of the vaccine. Whereas polysaccharide vaccine protection lasts only 3 years.

The meningitis bacteria are transmitted via respiratory droplets and throat secretions of an infected person.

Generally, any activity that increases the risk of exposure to someone’s respiratory droplets or throat secretions (participating in mass gatherings, being in close contact with locals (kissing, dancing), living with locals, and etc.)

During the period from December 2016 to March 207, about 1407 meningitis cases have been reported in Nigeria. Unfortunately, about 15% (211 people) of the patients died from disease-related consequences. The total population of the country is about 195 million.

Meningitis is a deadly condition. Even in case of an adequate treatment, 15% of people die within 2 days. Moreover, more than 50% of infected individuals die within few days if left untreated. About 20% of survivors develop long-term life-threatening disabilities.

• One dose is more than 78% effective.
• Two doses are more than 88% effective.

Two doses usually provide lifelong immunity.

Most people who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine have lifelong immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella. However, some people need to get additional doses of the vaccine:

• People who got the inactivated measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967 (one or two doses are needed)
• People who are at increased risk of getting mumps (if there is a mumps outbreak in their country) should receive two doses of the vaccine

People who can’t find their MMR vaccine administration record have two options:

• Ideally, get tested for the presence of MMR immunity.
• If you are running out of time and want to play it safe, you can get an extra vaccination without it causing long-term health consequences. People choose this option when time is the most important factor in the decision-making process.

If you have a low level of MMR immunity, you need to get one MMR vaccination.

Yes. It is not harmful to get an additional vaccination.

Tourists should get one MMR vaccination at least two weeks before traveling. But they should be vaccinated even if there are fewer than two weeks before departure.

You should first pay attention to the number of doses of the MMR vaccine you’ve received. Ideally, there should be two doses received at least four weeks apart.

No. There is no need to get tested or revaccinated.

The incubation periods (the period between being infected and developing the first symptoms) for measles, mumps, and rubella differ slightly: