Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America are common missionary destinations and also potential hot spots for infectious diseases. Many activities of a missionary, such as establishing a clean water supply, administering vaccines and cooking with native foods, further increase the chances of getting sick. The immunization requirements and recommendations vary by destination, so it's important to visit a travel medicine expert before traveling internationally. Pre-travel planning should begin about six weeks before departure in order to have adequate time for immunizations to take effect. Some vaccines such as the one for Hepatitis B are given in a series over a short period of time.
Specific vaccinations are mandatory for entry into certain countries.
Missionaries traveling to countries in Central America or Africa, for example, may be required to get a yellow fever vaccination before entering. Other recommended vaccinations for missionaries include those for, typhoid and Hepatitis A, as well as oral medications for malaria. In addition to the right vaccinations, missionaries should take the right steps to stay healthy while living abroad. The most common illness for missionaries is traveler's diarrhea caused by contaminated food or water. General precautions against insects such as mosquitoes should be followed as well.