Health and Fitness - Ask Advocate Archive Search our Physician Directory of more than 4,200 physicians in the Chicago and Northern Illinois area. For people traveling either to developed or underdeveloped parts of the world, good health requires planning ahead.
Health risks vary by destination and can change rather quickly.
Getting properly immunized and taking special health and risk precautions ahead of time can minimize most travel-related problems. If you are unsure about your vaccine history, consult with your family physician. If you and your family members have been properly immunized, you probably should be safe in most developed countries if you are on organized trip or cruise. Ask your travel agent if the countries you are considering require any proof of vaccination for entry. If you are picking a more exotic or remote location, you may need to go to a travel and immunization center that stocks specific vaccines as well as limited-distribution vaccines for lesser known illnesses and diseases confined to particular regions of the world.