Vaccinations preparation

Traveling to Rhode Island poses no health-risk. Rhode Island’s Department of Health has well-implemented disease prevention and health and safety promotion programs. They have detailed information on the existing diseases in Rhode Island and address them with programs coordinated with national institutions.

 

There exists a State of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Immunization and Testing for Communicable Diseases which details guidelines for the immunization of public and private school children, from pre-school onwards.   It takes into consideration the requirements of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).   Programs and schedules of vaccination are implemented yearly for vaccine-preventable diseases like:

The Rhode Island Department of Health believes that it is critical for its citizens to receive vaccination whether they are children or adults. Adults and parents of children must be vigilant as to which ones must be followed-up with booster shots or when there are new vaccines available. Federal Law mandates that people who are vaccinated or their guardians are given the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) which are information sheets containing the benefits and risks of each shot that is given.

Rhode Island prepares itself for the yearly flu season as well as possible threats of bioterrorism. It has a life adult flu program that ensures that adults have access to vaccination whether they are home-bound or in care facilities. Adults over 18 years of age can also avail of the vaccines through public flu clinics, while younger ones can get them through their pediatricians. Rhode Island also has a Bioterrorism Preparedness Program for Smallpox. This includes pre-event vaccination; continued education and strengthening of capacities of doctors and other health professionals, including police, fire and rescue workers; a smallpox hospital; and a post-exposure vaccination. The vaccines are provided by the federal government and are to be administered by the state in three phases, initially on volunteers.

On the flipside, if a traveler is from or has traveled within Angola; Benin; Bolivia; Brazil’s Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Pará; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Colombia; Ecuador; French Guyana; Gabon; Ghana; Gambia; Guinea; Liberia; Nigeria; Peru; Sierra Leone; Sudan; Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire) or Venezuela within 90 days before traveling to Rhode Island or any US destination, they are required to submit a yellow fever international immunization certificate.

Those bringing in dogs and cats who are three months old or older must also have proof of their pet’s updated rabies vaccination.