Abu Dhabi, Jul 11 (Emirates 247): Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) has urged those planning to travel during summer to visit health centres and receive required vaccinations, at least two weeks prior to their date of travel.

In a statement, HAAD emphasised the importance of vaccines in protecting against most common diseases in their destination countries. It added that vaccines also help in reducing the spread of infectious diseases among members of the community when travellers return home.

The vaccines include meningococcal and seasonal flu vaccines, yellow fever vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines, typhoid vaccine, and rabies vaccine. The required vaccines differ from one country to another, depending on the spread of epidemics in the destination countries.

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Director of the Communicable Diseases Department at Haad, said the authority calls upon those wishing to travel to receive the necessary travel vaccinations, each according to his destination and state of health, to ensure a safe journey.

These efforts come within the framework of 'the need for a vaccination campaign' designed to raise public awareness about updates in the vaccination programmes.