Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my certificate in English?
Yes, all our certificates are in English.
How do you get information about the requirements that apply to each country?
Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' journey and see what applies to your country. If necessary - visit the website of your country's embassy.
How do I find out if I should be vaccinated and what vaccinations are needed?
Talk to your doctor or vaccination clinic about the need for travel vaccinations as well as other more general vaccinations. The travel destination, mode of travel and activities, and your previous vaccinations will be crucial to your vaccination needs.According to the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), all travelers should have comprehensive vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus (tetanus). In addition, SSI states that if you are not immune to measles, you should be vaccinated (measles, mumps, rubella). In addition, there are general recommendations in Denmark regarding vaccinations - such as child vaccinations and vaccinations for adults.
Talk to the doctor about minor children who have not yet completed the childhood vaccinations in the Danish childhood vaccination program.
Where are you going?
The need for vaccination varies from country to country depending on the incidence of diseases and the personal risk assessment. Read them country-specific vaccination recommendations in good time before departure. For example, hepatitis A and hepatitis B are common diseases outside the Western world, and hepatitis A has increased in several countries in Europe.
If you are planning a holiday in a remote destination, you should consider disease protection, for example in the form of vaccination and malaria medication.
The incidence of diseases and the consequent need for vaccinations can also vary within a country's borders, depending on the region and season in question. It also matters whether you intend to spend the night outdoors. nature or in a resort
Planlægning
In the case of personal vaccination plans, it may be advisable to take into account any future journeys where the same vaccination protection is required.
Travel vaccinations are not usually a requirement, but in some countries vaccinations against diseases such as yellow fever are required to prevent epidemics. For example, in certain parts of Africa and South America it must be possible to document vaccination against yellow fever to get entry or exit permit. Like several other countries in Asia, documentation of yellow fever requires vaccination if you enter from a country with yellow fever transmission. In Saudi Arabia, all pilgrims must be able to document immunization against meningococcal diseases.
In many countries, vaccination against, for example, hepatitis is compulsory for all children in local schools and day care institutions. It is important to keep in mind if you are moving to another country or if your child is going abroad as an exchange student. or similar.
Begin the preparations well in advance
If you are planning a trip and are not sick in advance, you should contact your doctor at least 1-2 months before departure, as it can be a very time consuming process to obtain all the necessary information and get the required vaccinations.
If you are going to travel to an exotic place, or if you are pregnant or have a condition that requires medication, you should start preparing 2-3 months in advance.
Keep in mind that late immunization is better than no immunization at all, so even if you are late, you can still protect yourself against a variety of diseases.
Can vaccination grant 100% protection?
There is no vaccine that provides 100% guarantee of protection, but the vast majority of healthy people who are vaccinated achieve a high degree of immunization through vaccination. For some vaccinations, several doses are needed for to ensure immunity and to last longer.
What are the risks if you have not been vaccinated?
In extreme situations, such as outbreaks of yellow fever epidemic or meningococcal disease, there is a risk of developing a disease with a high mortality rate and / or late effects. Hepatitis A is probably the most common disease, even if very few people die of hepatitis A, it can take several weeks to recover from the disease - and during this period you may not be able to work or study. if you have been infected, there is also a risk that you will infect others in your circle of friends when you have returned home to Denmark.
Where can I get vaccinated and how does it work in practice?
All travel vaccines and malaria prophylaxis are subject to prescription and are not included child vaccinations. Therefore, prior to your trip, it is necessary to contact either your doctor or a vaccination clinic yourself and book a consultation with the aim of finding out your vaccination needs.
Vaccination clinics often contain most vaccines, whereas GPs often have only the most common vaccines in stock and others are taken home as needed. In some cases, the vaccine must be picked up at the pharmacy prior to the consultation.
The nurse and the subsequent vaccination are often carried out by the nurse.
Both vaccine and administration are paid for directly after the consultation. Rates may vary.
Vaccination card
Completed vaccinations are registered by the nurse / vaccinator in the yellow vaccination card and in the Danish Vaccination Register.
Please note that some vaccines require more than one dose to complete the vaccination schedule, so be sure to book subsequent consultations immediately so that the vaccination schedule is completed as intended.
What does it cost to be vaccinated?
Vaccinations included in the Danish child vaccinations is free until the child is 18. After that, any missing vaccinations must be self-financed unless special circumstances apply. Talk to your doctor about this.
Travel vaccinations, on the other hand, must be paid for out of pocket and prices may vary from place to place. Therefore, contact your own doctor or vaccination clinic for more information.
If you are a member of Health insurance danmark, you can get a 50% discount on travel vaccinations.
How do I find out what vaccinations I have received and if they still work?
All your travel vaccinations are registered on your yellow vaccination card.
Since 15 November 2015, all doctors / vaccination clinics have been obliged to report all given vaccinations in the Danish Vaccination Register (DDV). All vaccinations given after this date therefore appear on the electronic vaccination card. Vaccinations given at the hospital and vaccinations , which the citizen has paid for himself, for example foreign vaccinations, before this date, will not necessarily appear on the vaccination card. You can find your vaccinations at 'The Common Medicines Card'
What do I do if I have lost my vaccination card?
If you can not find your vaccination card, you can find all your vaccinations given after 15 November 2015 via the electronic vaccination card 'The Common Medicines Card'. Here you can find all vaccinations received from this date. older date, please contact your doctor or vaccination clinic for more information.
You have the option to update your vaccination data on sundhed.dk.
What do I do if the vaccination program has not been complied with or completed - or if I do not remember what vaccinations I have received?
If you have not completed a vaccination series, the protection may be deficient and / or of shorter duration. If the vaccination program has not been completed and you therefore lack vaccinations in the program, you should talk to your doctor or vaccination clinic.
How often should I be re-vaccinated?
Depending on the individual vaccine / vaccination schedule, the protection may vary from being considered lifelong to the need for revaccination / booster after a few years. Talk to your doctor about the duration of the protection of the individual vaccines.
Do country-specific vaccination recommendations vary from year to year?
Yes. Most changes concern diseases that can very quickly cause widespread epidemics, as well as other more long-term changes in the spread of the disease. Your doctor or vaccination clinic can provide the current recommendations with the latest updates, such as polio and revaccination / booster to certain countries.
Does the season (eg rainy season) affect which vaccinations or malaria medicines are needed?
The risk of becoming infected with certain diseases varies according to the season. Diseases transmitted by mosquito bites, such as yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis, are far more prevalent during the rainy season, whereas the risk of a meningitis epidemic in Africa is greater when the climate is dry and cool.
Is it necessary to check your immunization status when traveling in Europe?
It is always a good idea to check the relevant ones vaccinationsanbefalinger before a trip abroad, even if the trip goes to a well-known destination you have visited before.
Measles is still prevalent in many European countries, and as a traveler in Europe you should therefore make sure that you are immunized against this disease (if you have not already had it) via the MMR vaccine. There is also a general increase in the incidence of hepatitis A and B outside Western Europe, and vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) may be relevant depending on your travel activity / behavior to destinations, for example in the Nordic / Baltic countries and Central Europe. have valid vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus (tetanus) for all travelers.
Is there a need for vaccinations in Denmark?
As mentioned, it is recommended by the health authorities that children are vaccinated in accordance with the Danish child vaccinations program. There is no definite adult program in Denmark corresponding to the child vaccination program. But there are recommendations from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) for example regarding vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and measles. There are also recommendations for vaccination of risk groups against for eg. hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and against rubella for women of childbearing age, if not immune.
Talk to your doctor about vaccination.
Is there an age limit for vaccination?
No. Immunization of the elderly is at least as important as immunization of children and their parents. Many diseases are more malignant the older you are, and there is also a risk that the protection the elderly person receives through vaccination , is less effective because their immune system is not as good as it used to be.
Can I be vaccinated if I am pregnant?
During pregnancy, both the mother and the fetus are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. Some diseases are more serious and may even be life-threatening during pregnancy, while others increase the risk of fatal disease, abortion or malformation.
If you are pregnant, it is very important to get advice from a doctor regarding travel destination and risk as well as the possibility of protecting both the pregnant woman and the unborn child. This applies to the risk of infectious diseases as well as other travel-related risks. live vaccines are not given to pregnant women, nor can some malaria drugs be used in pregnant women.
Talk to your doctor about the individual journey, and what vaccinations you can get as a pregnant woman, as well as a consideration of whether the journey should be postponed until after the end of the pregnancy.
Is there anything special you as a backpacker need to be aware of when it comes to vaccination?
The need for immunization depends on the duration of the trip, the itinerary and the general conditions at the destination. Backpackers typically travel to remote places where not many tourists come, and their experiences are usually very different from 'ordinary' travelers.
If you intend to go on an adventure, be prepared for poorer hygiene and a greater risk of mosquito bites and accidents, with the consequent need for medical treatment.
Although backpackers often have a very tight budget, vaccination should definitely be included as part of the travel expenses.
What vaccinations should children have when traveling abroad?
The Danish child vaccinations program includes vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenza b, pneumococci, measles, mumps, rubella - and for girls HPV.
Talk to your doctor if your child has not been given all these vaccines, as the program can be adapted in certain cases and if revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is relevant in older children.
Additional vaccination recommendations depend on the destination of the destination. The recommendations may also vary within a country's borders, depending on the region and type of travel in question. What immunizations are recommended in which countries are indicated country-specific vaccination recommendations
Some vaccinations may be given to neonates (eg hepatitis B vaccination), while others are subject to an age restriction, either because the vaccination may not be given so early or because doses given before the recommended age limit may impair the immune response. (For example, children must be 1 year old before they can be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis A + B.) Although the majority of non-school-going children with hepatitis A are asymptomatic, there is a risk that the disease will spread. to other children and adults, and vaccination prevention should therefore be considered.
A future investment
Some vaccinations provide lifelong protection. When choosing vaccinations, it is important to have future travel needs in mind, as most children will travel a lot during their lifetime.
I'm going on a cancellation trip with the family. What should I be aware of?
Before you book your trip, check to see if there are any potential health risks to the current destination that you should prepare for. For example, the documentation on yellow fever vaccination, which must be brought with you when entering many African and Latin American countries, not valid until ten days after vaccination. Any treatment with malaria medication should be started before departure. In any case, you should consult your doctor as soon as the trip is booked.
Before departure, you should check whether your travel insurance covers expenses in connection with any illness or accident. In most cases, children under the age of 16 are covered by their parents' insurance, but it is always a good idea to check any special terms and conditions of travel and its duration.
How to protect children from malaria?
If you are traveling to an area at risk of malaria, be sure to protect yourself and your children from mosquito bites from infectious mosquitoes. Talk to your doctor about what malaria prevention medication can be given to children.
Malaria mosquitoes are most active at dusk and at night.
Read country-specific vaccination recommendations well in advance of departure and talk to your doctor prior to travel.
What care and treatment does a child suffering from travel diarrhea need?
Travel diarrhea is best prevented with good hand and food hygiene. Nevertheless, many people get sick when they are on holiday. Children are more prone to get diarrhea, both in Denmark and abroad.
Symptoms
The symptoms of travel diarrhea range from mild abdominal pain and loose stools to severe vomiting, diarrhea and fever. You usually recover within a day or two, but especially in children the symptoms can last for a much longer time. Some pathogenic micro-organisms, such as Giardia and amoebae, may cause stomach symptoms that persist for weeks or months.
Treatment
The primary goal of treating acute diarrhea is to maintain the body's fluid balance, and this is best done with so-called rehydration fluid (or powder mixed with fluid), which provides a good balance of water, salt and sugar. It is a good idea to note the amounts of liquid.
Diarrhea-stopping agents can be dangerous and should therefore not be given to children.
In a hot climate, severe symptoms can quickly lead to severe dehydration and weakness. This can lead to life-threatening illness. You should seek medical attention immediately if your child has severe diarrhea or vomiting if the child is unable or unwilling to drink if is blood in the stool or if the child is very lethargic.
What do I do if I get bitten or licked by an animal?
In countries where rabies occurs, you should avoid contact with animals.
Rabies is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, but can also be transmitted through saliva in wounds or mucous membranes.
In countries where rabies occurs, seek medical attention immediately if you have been bitten or licked on the mucous membranes / wounds of an animal for the prevention of rabies.
First Aid
If you have been bitten by an animal or licked on mucous membranes of eg face or wound, wash the area immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated against rabies before possible exposure to infection. If there is a risk of rabies infection, it is important that vaccination is started as soon as possible, whether or not you have been vaccinated before.
In addition, it is recommended that you also receive immunoglobulin if you have not been previously vaccinated against rabies. Even if you have been vaccinated before exposure, immediate subsequent vaccinations are still necessary after possible exposure.
Booster tetanus vaccination and antibiotics may also be needed.
What do I do if my child needs medical treatment abroad?
Prior to your trip, you should check that your travel insurance covers all members of the family. If you travel within Europe, you are covered by the blue health insurance card in most countries. Check www.borger.dk for more information. If you are planning to travel outside of Europe, you should consult your travel insurance company to ensure optimal coverage of all family members on your holiday.
In some countries with poorer hygiene standards in healthcare, treatment may lead to a possible risk of transmission of eg hepatitis B as well as other infections such as HIV. If you make sure to contact your insurance company and the doctor, as the company has appointed, there is a significantly greater chance of getting medical treatment of a higher standard.