It is a universally understood truth that vaccinations save lives by providing a much higher level of immunity and protection for diseases, but it is not just the lives of those who go to a pharmacy and have the inoculation who will benefit from that protection.

Certain countries have diseases that are more common and endemic than they are over here, which is part of the reason why a set of travel vaccinations is an essential part of preparing for your holiday.

There is an overlap between vaccines for travel and routine vaccinations you will receive throughout your life, and certain holiday itineraries may require more protection than others.

However, vaccination not only helps protect you but can also protect others from diseases you may contract but are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms.

On a systemic, wide level, vaccinations can even eradicate diseases entirely, as seen by the incredible global effort to wipe out smallpox.

However, this barrier can sometimes be broken, and when it is, it can lead to some diseases previously believed to be extinct in certain regions coming back.

The Return Of Measles

In 2025, there have been a number of prominent measles outbreaks, which provide an illustrative example of the power of vaccination and why diseases can sometimes return.

War, strife and the destruction of medical infrastructure are common causes of measles outbreaks, not only in the countries affected by war but in neighbouring nations where there is frequent travel.

This is why in the late 2010s, measles cases increased across Europe, with disrupted vaccination schedules caused by military action having an effect.

Other countries which are parts of major trade routes can also increase the risks of spreading diseases, as was found with a major outbreak of measles in Morocco in 2025.

Another component was the disruption to vaccine schedules in the early 2020s, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This meant that a lot of children who would have received one or both of the scheduled doses of the MMR vaccine may not have done so.

This, alongside vaccine hesitancy, is a contributing factor towards the outbreaks seen in the United States, which have primarily been found in areas where vaccination rates are lower and thus the disease can spread more quickly.

How Do You Keep Yourself Safe Whilst Travelling?

Vaccination is by far the most important step in protecting yourself and others from infectious diseases, and checking in with your GP or local travel health clinic will provide you not only with the immunisations themselves, but also advice about the protections you need.

Everyone’s individual circumstances are unique, and depending on where you travel, whether you are at a greater risk of being in contact with people or animals with a given disease, and your immune system’s health, the advice may vary considerably.

However, vaccination compounds with safe and hygienic practices abroad, so the fewer avenues a contagion has to infect you, the smaller the chance is that you will contract a disease.

This, in turn, means that there are fewer chances you have to inadvertently infect others and cause an outbreak.