Vaccination guidance for all UK tourists flying to Spain, Italy and Greece
Current travel guidance specifies which vaccinations are advised for tourists preparing for vacations
Summer's now here and many Brits are likely jetting off to far-flung locations in search of some overdue hot weather. However, it's important to stay updated on the latest health and safety advice before boarding that plane.
While it's not compulsory to have vaccination certificates to enter popular European destinations such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, a few are recommended for your personal safety. In light of this, we've compiled some tips from the National Travel Health Network and Centre's Travel Health Pro and the Government's Foreign Office to help you stay well whilst abroad.
Greece
British holidaymakers should keep their vaccinations current in the UK, even though certificates aren't required for trips to Greece. This includes the diphtheria-tetanus-polio and MMR vaccines.
Tetanus is a potentially deadly condition caused by bacteria entering a wound. It is common worldwide and usually happens when an open wound contacts dirt or manure.
Keeping this in mind, travellers are advised to properly clean any injuries and seek medical help for 'animal bites/scratches, burns, or wounds contaminated with soil'.
Anyone with a higher susceptibility to infectious diseases because of their lifestyle, health conditions, or job risks might require extra vaccinations. For example, although 'most' travellers should know about tetanus, 'some' should also be cautious of bat lyssaviruses, or bat rabies.
Vaccines for bat lyssaviruses are accessible in the UK. Guidance from the UK Foreign Office has stressed: "Treatment and facilities are generally good on the mainland, but may be limited on the islands.
"The standards of nursing and aftercare, particularly in the state sector, is not to the usual standard of the UK. The public ambulance service is basic. There are serious shortages of ambulances on some islands.
"If you are uninsured, you may not be able to get medical treatment or diagnostic tests from private doctors in Greece, only from public hospitals and primary healthcare centres."
In an emergency while in Greece, tourists should dial 112 or 166 to get an ambulance.
Spain
Currently, Spain does not require specific vaccination certificates for entry under International Health Regulations. However, Travel Health Pro recommends that travellers stay current with routine vaccinations advised in the UK.
Like Greece, this also covers the diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. It is also important to recognise the rabies risk in Spain's African territories of Ceuta and Melilla.
The rest of Spain, including the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, is believed to be free or have a low risk of rabies. Although a rare illness, rabies presents as a serious threat, typically transmitted via bites or scratches from an infected animal. The NHS has issued a stark warning, noting that rabies is 'almost always fatal once symptoms appear'.
However, timely vaccination and treatment can offer sufficient protection against the disease. Holidaymakers heading to Ceuta and Melilla may therefore be recommended to receive pre-exposure rabies jabs, particularly if they're engaging in activities deemed 'higher risk', such as cycling or running.
Travellers should also exercise caution regarding personal hygiene and food and water safety when visiting Spain. Last year, Spain identified a potential poliovirus threat after finding a variant in a sewage sample from the Besòs Wastewater Treatment Plant in Barcelona, Catalonia.
Travel Health Pro reports that ongoing investigations are underway, and the Public Health Agency of Catalonia has provided additional details on its website.
Tourists should check Spain's latest vaccination advice at least eight weeks before travelling. If they fall ill during their holiday, they should call 112 for an ambulance.
"Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment," the Foreign Office has said, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Italy
Turning to Italy, the country similarly does not demand proof of vaccinations from travellers. However, it's advised that British visitors ensure their routine immunisations, such as MMR and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccines, are up to date.
Visitors to Italy should also be alert to the risks posed by tick-borne encephalitis, a viral infection spread through tick bites, prevalent across parts of Europe, Asia, and found within the UK itself.
After suffering a tick bite, you might initially encounter symptoms such as a high fever, fatigue, and nausea, which can rapidly progress to more serious conditions within a matter of weeks or even days. Ticks carrying infections are commonly found in areas like woodlands, farmlands, and urban parks, making vaccination an effective measure to significantly reduce the risk.
"All travellers should avoid tick bites during outdoor activities, apply insect repellent frequently and follow tick bite avoidance advice," Travel Health Pro has explained. "Travellers should check their skin and clothes regularly for ticks and remove them as soon as possible with a recommended technique. Wearing light coloured clothes makes it easier to spot ticks. Travellers should not eat or drink any unpasteurised milk products."
Fortunately, the danger for most travellers remains quite low, but those engaging in more adventurous activities like caving might encounter higher risks. Therefore, pre-exposure vaccines are advised for specific visitors.
The Foreign Office has advised tourists to review Italy's most recent vaccination guidelines at least eight weeks prior to their trip. In case of illness during the holiday, they should dial 112 and request an ambulance.