Vaccinations for the pediatric traveler.

The care of the traveling child has become more complex and specialized as vaccine developments and recommendations have evolved. Differences in the pediatric immune response and the rationale for vaccine use or omission at certain ages must be considered. Protecting children from travel-related disease involves updating routine childhood immunizations and appropriately administering itinerary-specific travel vaccines. Routine childhood vaccinations may need to be accelerated for young infants traveling before the standard primary vaccine series can be completed. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, varicella, and tickborne encephalitis vaccinations have pediatric indications, side effects, and uses. This review will address vaccine considerations and current US recommendations particular to traveling children.