Munich health department urges Christmas travellers to check vaccinations eight weeks before departure

Munich's Health Department is advising everyone planning a trip over the Christmas holidays to find out about travel vaccinations and check their vaccination status at least eight weeks before departure. Travel vaccinations are often advisable for long-haul trips and are sometimes compulsory. The advice also covers standard vaccinations, which should be topped up regularly.

The head of the Health Department, Beatrix Zurek, said: "We all want to enjoy our holidays carefree and in good health. So get advice from your doctor in good time on which vaccinations are recommended or required for your trip. At the same time, they can check whether any vaccinations recommended by STIKO are missing or need a booster."

The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) and the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG) publish recommendations on travel vaccinations every year. Depending on the destination, vaccinations may be recommended against diseases including chikungunya, cholera, dengue fever, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal disease, rabies and typhoid. These often go beyond the usual standard vaccinations.

The Health Department offers comprehensive information and advice on vaccination at its vaccination advice centre at Schwanthalerstraße 69. The advice service can be reached by telephone on 233-66907 from Monday to Friday, 11am to 12 noon.

Vaccinations can be given by a GP or directly at the Health Department's vaccination centre. Appointments there can be made on 233-66912 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 12 noon, and from Monday to Thursday, 1pm to 3pm. Further information is available at muenchen.de/Impfen and auswaertiges-amt.de/de/reiseundsicherheit/reise-gesundheit.