Vaccinations of International Travellers From Greece to Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Introduction: The number of travellers from Greece who travel to sub-Saharan Africa has increased during the last decade. Our aim in this research was to study vaccination patterns for travellers travelling to sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2011 until December 2014 in all (57) public health departments in Greece. Travellers over 18 years travelling to sub-Saharan Africa participated in this study. A standard form was used in order to collect data about travellers’ demographics, immunization history and travel information.Results: During the study period, 1768 travellers (median age: 39.2 years) travelling to sub-Saharan Africa participated. Among them, 69.2% of them were male and 95.4% of them had a Greek nationality. Nigeria was their most common destination (15.7%). Among all the travellers, 56.7% stayed in urban areas, 57.9% travelled for less than one month, 58.5% for work, 29% for vacation, and 5.8% for visiting friends and relatives. Furthermore, 79.7%, 30.9%, 19.7%, 16.8%, and 14.1% received the yellow fever, typhoid fever, tetanus-diphtheria, hepatitis A, and meningococcal vaccines, respectively. The purpose of travelling was statistically significantly associated with gender, nationality, and the duration of travel. Tetanus, hepatitis A & B, poliomyelitis, rabies and meningococcal vaccines were more commonly recommended for recreational travel, whereas tetanus, hepatitis A, and poliomyelitis vaccines for short-term travellers and typhoid vaccine for long-term travellers.Conclusion: It can be concluded that vaccination rrecommendations should be improved for the travellers to sub-Saharan Africa. Individualized and more selective pre-travel recommendations are needed taking in consideration the purpose and duration of travel, the area and place of stay.