I'll be going on the RS tour to Poland in early June. I read the most recent topics on the Covid vaccine 2024-25 (yes, get a 2nd dose if your last booster was in the Fall).
A google search mentioned there is a high risk for Rabies and Tickborne encephalitis is widespread.
I'll be in Gdansk, Torun (including Malbork Castle), Warsaw, Krakow, and Auschwitcz.
Your thoughts on having the rabies and tick borne encephalitis vaccines?
Thank you,
Robin
Google search aside, I'd review the information on the CDC website for Poland https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/poland
They wisely advise: Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.
I find the NHS "Fit for Travel" website very helpful- this is what they recommend for Poland: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/europe-russia/poland#Vaccinations
They also have very helpful malaria maps if you're ever travelling to a region with malaria.
Tickborne encephalitis is increasing in the central part of Sweden where we live. Everyone in our family has had the 3 vaccines required within a year, followed by a booster every 5 years. I would be very surprised if you could get it in the US, my GP had never heard of it. From the local vaccine clinic - https://vaccindirekt.se/en/vaccinations/tbe-tick-borne-encephalitis/
I believe the rabies vaccine is generally administered only post-exposure, though for those at very high risk (bat researchers? spelunkers?) I guess it is available prophylactically. The TBE vaccine might be good if you plan to traipse through high grasses and/or forests; otherwise just stay aware of the possibility of ticks and make sure you remove them promptly. Again, the CDC website is a valuable resource.
Seriously, if you are going to Warsaw, Toruń, Gdańsk, Malbork, Kraków and Auschwitz your risk of getting bitten by a wild infected animal and getting rabies is zero. Literally zero. Dogs are vaccinated by law, and there are almost no stray dogs in Poland. Tick-borne encephalitis is not widespread, and certainly not in locations you are planning to visit. 99% of Polish residents are not vaccinated against it. I live in Poland and haven't been bitten by a tick for over 20 years. What is more wide spread is Lyme disease but you won't get that by walking on the pavements in cities either, and it's treated with antibiotics anyway.
Official statistics from 2024 number of cases
Rabies: 0
Tick-borne encephalitis: 793
Lyme disease: 29347
Covid is long forgotten. Nobody is getting vaccinated against it.
Unless you plan to hike in the woods or handle animals, I do not see any need for rabies or tick shots, especially as these require a series of shots. I live in Austria and the same advisory for ticks applies here - only locals who hike a lot get the shot. But you do you and you consult a travel medical specialists.
Thanks everyone. I scheduled the 2 vaccines on April 14 but will ask the pharmacy to confirm they make sense for me (for the trip and for where I live and activities I do locally).
Since you brought up vaccines, what about measles? My husband, born well before 1991, got his MMR vaccine as a kid, but is getting a booster this afternoon, as the shot in the 1960’s doesn’t give as much protection as what was given after 1990. With cases on the rise in the U.S., and our trip to Poland coming up, he’s getting the booster shot.
I had measles, before the vaccine existed, so I’m covered. And if you’re younger than 34 and got a MMR vaccine as a child, then you’re covered there, too. If older, consider a booster. Enjoy Poland!
This thread has gone a bit off topic (and I can see one of the comments I was replying to earlier has been deleted) so I would like to bring it back and make a few final points:
-It's very unlikely you will need to be vaccinated for any of these for travelling in Poland- particularly if you are staying in cities/around major tourist sites, which from the list above it looks like you are
-However, if part of your trip involves travel in rural areas/camping, it might make sense to be vaccinated (this is outlined in the link that I shared)
-If you are not sure, it is worth speaking to someone who can advise. This is likely to be someone at a travel clinic but some pharmacies also do travel medicine.
Thanks again for the responses.
Regarding the MMR vaccine (regardless of where you live), even if you had all 3 as a child, it is wise to get the vaccine.
Thanks to those who reiterated the qualifications to be a pharmacist in the US.
Do Widzenia
I wouldn't worry too much. Poland is very civilized and clean.
I've edited this thread, as it got off topic, and some of the comments were veering from our guideline of remaining "unfailingly polite." I think the OP's original question has been sufficiently answered and therefore I am locking the thread.
