February 7, 2025

Adventure Destinations League

Navigating Travel Wonders

Couple asks about vaccines before their trip

Couple asks about vaccines before their trip

Dr. Keith Roach

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband and I booked a cruise for March with stops in Singapore; Vietnam; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; and Japan. We are healthy 67-year-old Nevada residents with no medical problems. I’ve checked with my personal physician, our travel agent, and several websites, including the Centers for Disease Control and local health care agency websites, for required vaccinations/immunizations. The recommended list is very long. However, I haven’t seen anything that is required.

My doctor said we should be fine since we will be staying on a cruise ship with only short-term time on shore. But we are planning to eat locally since my husband is Japanese and can’t wait to eat the local food offerings.

Would you recommend that we receive any shots? We want to be safe, yet it seems unwise to schedule everything on the recommended list. Our preference would be to skip anything that is not required.

— D.M.

Dear D.M.: I hope you have an enjoyable trip. Planning ahead can help ensure a safe vacation that is free from untoward medical events.

Couple asks about vaccines before their trip

Of the vaccines that are recommended for people over 65 in general, I most strongly recommend the flu and COVID vaccines. The pneumonia vaccine is not critically important for the cruise, even though I generally recommend it for healthy people over 65. Cruise ships are notorious for COVID and flu transmission.

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