Photo © DrFarouk, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Vaccinations are recorded on a yellow International Certificate of Vaccination, which you should bring with you to Ecuador. You may be asked to show this document to prove your immunizations, especially in the case of a yellow fever outbreak. Take care of these vaccinations as soon as possible, since some involve a series of injections and take a few months to take effect. Your doctor should know which ones not to mix with others (especially immunoglobulins) so as not to decrease their effectiveness.See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before you leave to allow time for immunizations to take effect. The following vaccinations are recommended for travelers to Ecuador. Even if you are only spending minimal time on the mainland before traveling to the Galápagos, you should still consider these vaccinations.
Hepatitis A: This viral infection of the liver is contracted mainly from contaminated food and water. The vaccination is strongly recommended, and a booster after 6 or 12 months guarantees protection for over 10 years. Get the first shot before you leave; it’s possible to get a follow-up shot from a good private clinic in Ecuador.
Typhoid fever: This dangerous gut infection is also acquired from food and water. The vaccination is strongly recommended and can be administered as a live oral vaccine or through two injections taken at least four weeks apart. Yellow fever: This vaccination is necessary when entering Ecuador from Peru or Colombia (both officially infected countries), but it’s a good idea in any case because it’s a dangerous disease.
Hepatitis B: This is a less-common travelers’ disease because it’s contracted through sexual contact or exposure to infected blood. The vaccination is recommended for longer-term travel (more than six months) and if you are likely to come into close contact with locals (for example, working in medicine). This disease is more insidious than others, and you can be a carrier for years without symptoms, but it can cause serious liver damage. The complication is that you need three vaccinations spaced a month apart.
Routine immunizations: Any trip is a good time to update the following: diphtheria-tetanus, influenza, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, and pneumococcus.
Excerpted from the First Edition of Moon Galapagos Islands.
