Do you get any immunizations before leaving for Europe? We're visiting Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, and Warsaw.

Other than the immunizations you should have for life in the US, I know of none. Vienna, no reason for anything special. Prague, I just got back and nothing special or extra required. You are at greater risk for TB or salmonella or contaminated meat in the US than you are in Prague or Vienna. (salmonella like in in red tomatoes)

I have never been to Budapest, but I doubt if anything is necessary beyond normal precautions.

Ditto for Poland.

Why is it people think public health standards in Europe are below those in the US? The other way around is more likely.

This idea may be a holdover from the past. Years ago one needed to have a smallpox immunization before traveling to Europe. Since smallpox was not a standard immunization when my parents were children, I remember that my Mom had to be immunized before their first trip to Europe in 1965 that visited England, France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. My father had been immunized during his army service.

There is a vaccination recommended if a person is staying in heavily forested areas during summer eg when camping, walking holidays in Eastern Europe or Scandinavia. But for city holidays for short stays it is not necessary.

Really? Against what?
My son is going rafting in Sweden next week. He recently got a whole host of jabs as he is off to Tanzania in August. He jokingly asked about Sweden - they said nothing needed, but protect yourself from the mozzies with DEET, and a small chance of encephalitis or of course Lyme from tick bites.

Tick-borne encephalitis is the vaccination Odin is talking about, I guess.
There is no vaccination against Lyme disease, so the usual precautions concerning ticks apply anyway, no matter if you're vaccinated or not.

Thanks quokka - that's probably why they don't even offer the vaccination here.
I live in an area with a high risk of Lyme so we all automatically take full tick precautions anyway.

Generally, it's good to have your tetanus shots up to date, whether you plan to travel or not.
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/696_tet.html

And very good info above about tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease originated in Europe, not North America as is commonly believed. Many of my friends back in the eastern U.S. were very surprised to learn that ticks in Europe can carry Lyme disease (under another name of course) and that is a growing problem, especially in areas of restored woodlands. So take all the usual precautions.

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/News-.../WTX049364.htm