Travelling with impaired immunity
If you have impaired immunity, you are more susceptible to certain infections. Your defences can
lowered are because you are taking certain medications, such as immunosuppressants or chemotherapy,
or because you have a particular disease, such as HIV. This may mean that extra measures and
vaccinations are needed when travelling. Often, live attenuated vaccines may not be
given (e.g. the yellow fever, measles or dengue vaccine). Other (inactivated) vaccines
may be given, but may not work as well. As a result, they may give
not enough protection.
Which measures are necessary depends on your immune disorder. The traveller's advisor and/or your
practitioner will discuss with you what any risks are and what additional measures
may be necessary. If the risks are too high, it may be discussed to rebook the trip to
a destination with fewer risks.
Depending on your type of immune disorder, additional measures may be needed
prior to the trip:
- Additional travel vaccinations. Sometimes an extra shot of a vaccine is needed, such as a third shot against
rabies. A vaccine, such as against typhoid fever, may also be advised sooner. - Blood tests after some vaccinations. Vaccinations cause your body to produce antibodies
that protect you from disease. If you have impaired defences, your
immune system is not good and you may not produce enough antibodies after vaccination.
With some vaccinations, a blood test after 4 to 8 weeks is therefore used to check whether
your body has produced enough antibodies. If enough antibodies are found,
you are protected. It is usually not known how long that protection lasts. - An antibiotic prescription to self-treat diarrhoea during travel. If you need a
have lowered immunity, diarrhoea can make you seriously ill while travelling. That is why sometimes
given an antibiotic along on a trip to treat diarrhoea itself. For more
Information, see the leaflet ‘Traveller's diarrhoea’. - A referral to the tuberculosis department before and/or after the trip for advice on tuberculosis.
Indeed, sometimes people with compromised immune systems are more likely to get sick
Be affected by tuberculosis. - Vaccinations through your GP or practitioner such as the flu shot, corona shot or a shot against
pneumococci. These are standard vaccinations that people with compromised immune systems can
get, even if they are not travelling. Sometimes these vaccinations are reimbursed by your
health insurance.
Preparing for the trip:
- Take out good travel insurance with adequate medical assistance.
- See leaflet ‘Travel Pharmacy’ for a comprehensive list of medicines and first aid items you
can take with them. - Take an English-language medicine passport with you.
- Keep your medication in your hand luggage during the flight.
- Take enough medication with you and possibly for a few extra days.
- If you go to another country and take medicines covered by the Opium Act, then
you will probably need a medicine certificate. This applies to heavy painkillers, for example,
sleep and sedatives and ADHD medication. You can find more information via the CAK.
Additional measures during travel:
- Have you suffered a wound during your trip that has been in contact with street dirt or
earth/ground? If so, always contact a doctor, for example via the emergency centre of your
travel or health insurance. This also applies if your last tetanus vaccination was less than 10 years ago
was. A doctor can then assess whether you have immunoglobulins (antibodies) or an additional
need tetanus vaccination. - Contact a doctor through the emergency centre of your travel or health insurance policy if you are affected by
been bitten, scratched or licked by a mammal (such as a dog, cat, monkey or bat) over a
open wound. Even if you have been vaccinated against rabies, you may be able to get additional vaccinations in addition to extra
still need immunoglobulins (antibodies). These are not available everywhere in the world.
See leaflet ‘Rabies’ for more information. - Have you been given emergency malaria treatment and have symptoms that resemble malaria?
If so, immediately start treatment yourself and seek medical attention. See leaflet ‘Malaria -
’emergency treatment' for more information.
Ill during or after travel:
- Always see a doctor if you have a fever during or after a (long) trip. Tell the doctor you are in the
been abroad.
See also www.lcr.nl for further information
Download the leaflet below!
Last update: February 2026
