Download Immunizations for Kenya - Maseno Health Alliance

Immunizations Necessary for Travel to Kenya:
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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid (oral)
Malaria (oral prophylactic doses taken before, during, and after travel)
Meningitis
Tetanus
Yellow Fever
Polio booster (optional)
Routine:
Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella
(MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
● Tetanus booster needed every 10 years, a booster is required if you are unsure of last
DPT vaccine
Yellow Fever:
CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for all travelers ≥9 months of age. Kenya requires
proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter the country. Vaccination should be given 10 days
before travel and at 10-year intervals if there is ongoing risk. Most family practice healthcare
clinics do not carry the yellow fever vaccine. Check with a travel health clinic or your doctor
before scheduling your appointment. The CDC website also has lists of clinics providing the
yellow fever vaccine.
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B:
Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an
intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection where exposure might occur through food
or water. Hepatitis A can also be spread person-to-person.
Vaccination Options: Combination Vaccine
● TWINRIX, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B
vaccine licensed for persons ≥18 years of age.
● Primary immunization consists of three doses, given on a 0, 1, and 6-month schedule,
the same schedule as that commonly used for monovalent hepatitis B vaccine.
● An accelerated schedule of TWINRIX (i.e., doses at days 0, 7, and 21) for travelers has
been approved by the FDA. A booster dose should be given at 1 year.
Meningococcal (meningitis):
Recommended if you plan to visit countries that experience epidemics of meningococcal
disease.
○ Previous vaccine needed boosters every 5 years.
○ Menactra vaccine is good for a lifetime.
Typhoid
Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in East Africa, especially if
visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives where
exposure might occur through food or water.
Vaccination Options:
● Oral live vaccine-give in 4 doses, 48 hours apart. Vaccine taken 1-2 weeks prior to
departure. Booster needed ever 5 years
● Intramuscular injections, 1 dose, booster needed every 2 years
Polio (optional):
Suggested for adult travelers who have received a primary series with either inactivated
poliovirus vaccine (IPV) or oral polio vaccine (OPV). They should receive another dose of IPV
before departure. Adults need only a single lifetime booster dose with IPV.
Malaria:
Antimalarial drugs are necessary for travel to Kenya. Talk with your doctor about which
medication will be best for you. Some are taken as a daily dose, while others are on a weekly
basis. Cost and side effects should be taken into consideration.
Things to consider when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis:
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Recommendations for drugs to prevent malaria differ by country and can be
found on the CDC website. Note: Chloroquine is no longer effective in Kenya.
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No antimalarial drug is 100% protective and must be combined with personal
protective measures, (i.e., insect repellent, long sleeves, long pants, sleeping under a
mosquito net).
Anti-malarial drug options
Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone)
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Good for last minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before
traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
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Taken daily
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Good choice for shorter trips because you only have to take the medicine for 7
days after traveling rather than 4 weeks.
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Very well tolerated medicine – side effects minimal
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Cannot be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding a child less than 5
kg
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Cannot be taken by people with severe renal impairment
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Tends to be more expensive than some of the other options (especially for trips
of long duration)
Doxycycline
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Taken daily
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Good for last minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before
traveling, but it needs to be taken for 4 weeks after travel
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Tends to be the least expensive antimalarial
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If you are already taking doxycycline for a chronic infection (acne) you do not
have to take an additional medicine.
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Doxycycline also can prevent some additional infections (e.g., Rickettsiae and
leptospirosis) and so it may be preferred by people planning to do lots of hiking, camping,
wading and swimming in fresh water.
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Cannot be used by pregnant women and children <8 years old
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Women prone to getting vaginal yeast infections when taking antibiotics may
prefer taking a different medicine
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Persons planning on considerable sun exposure may want to avoid the increased
risk of sun sensitivity
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Most common side effect is stomach upset
Mefloquine (Lariam)
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Taken weekly, good choice for trips of longer duration
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Not recommended for patients with certain psychiatric conditions or a history of
depression
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Not recommended for persons with cardiac conduction abnormalities
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Not a good choice for last minute travelers because drug needs to be started at
least 2 weeks prior to travel
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Medication needs to be continued for 4 weeks after travel
Primaquine
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Good choice for shorter trips because you only have to take the medicine for 7
days after traveling rather than 4 weeks.
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Good for last minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before
traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
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Taken daily
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Cannot be used in patients with glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD)
deficiency
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Cannot be used in patients who have not been tested for G6PD deficiency
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There are costs and delays associated with getting a G6PD test done, however it
only has to be done once. Once a normal G6PD level is verified and documented, the test
does not have to be repeated the next time primaquine is considered.
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Some people are concerned about the potential of getting an upset stomach from
primaquine
It is also recommended to get a prescription from your doctor for an antibiotic to treat traveler’s
diarrhea, just in case. Typically ciprofloxacin or azithromycin are the best options, and are
relatively inexpensive.