Vaccines AZ Specific
Arizona is home to many climates that foster rich biodiversity in its ecosystems. It is common knowledge that close contact with certain (reptiles and amphibians, for example) animals can cause diseases (i.e. salmonella) in humans. When diseases from animals can directly infect humans, they are called zoonotic diseases. When diseases from insects can directly infect humans, they are called vector-borne diseases. Both zoonotic and vector-borne diseases can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic. Some examples of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases that have been reported in Arizona are West Nile Virus (WNV), St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLE), Dengue, and rabies. Other examples of zoonotic diseases are influenza, Valley Fever, and COVID-19.
While not all diseases are vaccine-preventable, some are. To learn more about how vaccines work, click here to read some vaccine myths versus facts. The next section will talk about some vaccine-preventable diseases.
Rabies
The primary rabies hosts in Arizona are bats, skunks, and foxes. Those at high risk of exposure to rabies, such as those who have close contact with potentially infected animals, are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to receive the rabies vaccine (HDCV or PCEC). Rabies vaccines can protect against disease even if an exposure has already occurred if it is administered before symptoms begin.
Speak with your provider about getting the rabies vaccine. Sometimes, providers will postpone routine (pre-exposure) rabies vaccinations until a future visit, and you may have to do a blood test before or after the vaccine to determine your level of immunity against rabies. Click here to learn more about the rabies vaccine. Click here to learn more about rabies and how to protect yourself against it. Click here to learn more about the symptoms of rabies.
Dengue
A dengue vaccine called Dengvaxia is available for use in children aged 9-16 years with laboratory-confirmed previous dengue virus infection, and living in areas where dengue is prevalent. It is not approved for use in US travelers who are visiting, but not living in an area where dengue transmission is high. This vaccine is used to prevent dengue in children who have previously had dengue. Click here to learn more about the dengue vaccine (Spanish link). Click here to learn more about dengue risk in Arizona.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitos. A vaccine to prevent disease caused by the Chikungunya virus called Ixchiq is currently licensed under the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults aged 18 and over. It is recommended for people who are most at risk, including those who travel to areas where chikungunya is prevalent. Final recommendations on the vaccine will be posted here once an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Work Group finishes reviewing final data. Click here to learn more about the Chikungunya virus.
Yellow Fever
Although not common in Arizona, a vaccine for Yellow Fever is available for people 9 months of age or older. It is recommended for individuals who are traveling to areas with high transmission rates, such as Africa and South America and is even required for entry into certain countries. Click here to learn about the Yellow Fever vaccine. Click here to learn more about travel recommendations regarding Yellow Fever.
Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE)
TBE virus is not found in the US. However, there is an FDA-approved vaccine for TBE, which is recommended for travelers visiting parts of Europe and Asia where risk is increased. TBE can spread to people through eating or drinking raw milk or cheese from infected goats, sheep, or cows, as well as through infected ticks. Click here to learn more about TBE. Click here to learn more about the TBE vaccine.
Click here to learn more about vaccine requirements and recommendations from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website, where you can search based on your travel destination. If you need help finding travel information, call 1-800-232-4636.