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Passports and Immunisations
As new parents you will need to know how to apply for your baby
or child's passport and understand what travel vaccinations you may need.
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All children born after 5 October 1998 need their own passport and
can no longer be added to their parents' passports as before.
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Children included on their parents' passports before 1998 can remain
on them until they become 16, the passport expires or the parent submits
it for amendment.
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To apply for a child passport, you'll need to show proof of birth,
ie the original birth certificate, and fill in a passport application
form.
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If your child is under 11, leave section eight of the application
form blank. For further advice about filling in a child application
form, call your regional passport office.
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You'll need two passport-sized head and shoulders photos of your
baby/child, taken on a white background. In the case of young babies,
you are allowed to support the baby's head so an adult's hands showing
in the photographs is acceptable.
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There are several ways to apply for a passport, depending on how
much time you have - the quickest is in person at one of the seven
regional passport offices and the slowest, a postal application. You
can also apply at the Post Office, World Choice travel agents or online
at www.ukpa.gov.uk,
where you'll find lots more info about passport applications.
For more detailed information on avoiding
passport nightmares click here.
- See your GP or a specialist travel clinic (for example, British Airways
Travel Clinics), six to eight weeks before you intend to travel, especially
if visiting developing countries, as some vaccinations have to be administered
in several doses over several weeks. If backpacking or going for a longer
period, see your doctor three months in advance.
- Tell the doctor which jabs your baby or child has already had so
they'll know for what diseases they are already covered - take their
Red Book (official health record) along as proof.
- What vaccinations your child has will depend on her age and the region
you are travelling to, plus her general state of health.
- Your GP or clinic will be able to advise you what jabs, if any, you
need to have but the following general rules apply:
a) Diphtheria, polio and tetanus (if you haven't been previously
immunised against them).
b) Poliomyelitis (not needed for North and West Europe, North America,
Australia and New Zealand).
c) Hepatitis A and typhoid (for areas where sanitation and hygiene
standards are low eg India).
d) Anti-malaria tablets (specific drugs will be prescribed depending
on where you are going) and precautions against insect bites, plus
yellow fever jabs for all countries where these infections exist (yellow
fever jabs are compulsory for entry into certain countries). Malaria
is a problem throughout the Tropics and can kill. Anti-malaria tablets
should be taken from one to two weeks before travelling and must be
continued for four weeks after leaving a malaria region. Occasionally,
individuals can have a bad reaction to the drugs in which case an
alternative can be prescribed.
e) A range of other jabs may be needed, depending on where you are
going eg rabies, MMR, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
- Some immunisations are free under the NHS but, for others, there
may be a small charge. Doctors can also charge for signing and filling
in vaccination certificates (needed for certain destinations).
- For more specific advice about travel vaccinations, visit
Follow these safety tips from the University of London's Hospital for
Tropical Diseases when visiting a developing country:
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Avoid salads, raw vegetables, shellfish, locally made ice cream and
unpasteurised milk and dairy products.
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Drink bottled water and avoid tap water/ice in drinks.
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Eat only food that's freshly prepared and is still hot.
- Peel all fruit yourself.
… and other holiday health problems
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Avoid becoming dehydrated by staying in the shade when the sun's
at its hottest (11am-3pm), drinking plenty of bottled water and being
sensible about alcohol intake.
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Carry your own basic first aid kit to include: rehydration sachets,
paracetamol (including infant suspension if necessary), sterile dressings,
waterproof plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-sting cream and tweezers.
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Use a high factor suncream at all times and re-apply regularly.
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Only swim in chlorinated pools and avoid swimming in the sea near
populated areas and sewage outlets.
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