Travel Consult Info
What is a travel consult and do I really need one?
A travel consult means seeing a physician before you travel to be sure you are currently healthy, prepared to take care of any chronic conditions you may have, and most importantly to get updated on your vaccinations. Depending on where you are traveling, malaria prevention medication is also prescribed at a travel consultation. In general, you really should seek a travel consult if you are traveling outside the US, Canada and Western Europe. Ideally, a travel consultation should be done at least 1 month and not more than 3 months before your planned trip.
How do I know what vaccines I need so I can be prepared for how much my travel consult is going to cost?
The CDC website is the gold standard for vaccination recommendations. You can read through the recommendations for the area you are traveling to and see which vaccinations you need to get. You can then check our price list and see the costs of each vaccine BEFORE you come in. Remember each vaccine has a $15 administration charge and be prepared to hang around the office 20 minutes after receiving your vaccines so we can make sure you do not have an adverse reaction.
Can you post date the day you give me the Yellow Fever vaccine so it looks like I got it 10 days before my travel date?
No. There is a reason you need to get it at least 10 days before entering a Yellow Fever area. Back dating a vaccination date is falsifying medical records and we will NOT do it under any circumstances.
To Stay Health When Traveling...
- Wash your hands!
- In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink.
- Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your health care provider for a prescription.)
- To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, even on beaches.
- Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Protect yourself from mosquito insect bites:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when outdoors
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET (N, N-diethylmethyltoluamide). For more information about insect repellents and correct use, see What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellent on the CDC West Nile Virus site.
- If no screening or air conditioning is available: use a pyrethroid-containing spray in living and sleeping areas during evening and night-time hours; sleep under bed nets, preferably insecticide-treated ones.
- If you are visiting friends and relatives in your home country, see additional special information about malaria prevention in Recent Immigrants to the U.S. from Malarious Countries Returning 'Home' to Visit Friends and Relatives on the CDC Malaria site.
Do not...
Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).
Do not drink beverages with ice.
Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as schistosomiasis. (For more information, please see Swimming and Recreational Water Precautions.)
Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague). Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccination if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas. For more information, please see Animal-Associated Hazards.
Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
Avoid poultry farms, bird markets, and other places where live poultry is raised or kept.