Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools in public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year vaccination helps prevent between 3.5 and 5 million deaths from avoidable diseases including measles, pneumonia and rotavirus-induced diarrhoea. It has eradicated smallpox, drastically reduced polio cases and helps protect vulnerable populations by maintaining high levels of vaccination coverage. However, declining vaccination rates have led to the resurgence of diseases such as whooping cough and influenza, underscoring the importance of mass immunisation efforts.
In professional settings, vaccination serves a dual purpose: protecting employees from work-related risks and preventing disease spread within organisations. This contributes to collective immunity, safeguarding the entire workforce.
Duty travel and vaccination
If you are travelling for work, it is important to be aware of the specific health risks linked to your destination. If you are an employed (MPE) or associated (MPA) member of the personnel, we highly recommend you make an appointment well in advance – ideally six weeks before your departure – with CERN’s occupational health doctor for a duty travel consultation. This will provide you with an opportunity for a general health check and to get vaccination recommendations tailored to your destination.
Note that some specific vaccinations, like for yellow fever, have to be administered in registered centres, such as the Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine Division at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG). You should also consult such a centre if you have a particular vaccination status or needs.
You can contact the CERN Medical Service to book an appointment for work-related travel vaccinations by phone: +41 22 76 73186 or email: medical.service@cern.ch.
For more information, please refer to the following webpages: