Dear Dr. Jeff: Can I get travel shots at the health center for my study away? C.K.
Dear C.K.: You sure can! And we can help you out with most of your other health preparation needs for travel and study away.
We still have plenty of free flu shots (strongly recommended before travel), offer all the other vaccinations (at cost), Tuberculosis skin tests (free), lab tests including HIV (required by some programs, and free at the health center), physical exams (free), and help completing health, insurance, and visa forms.
Most countries do not require proof of vaccination, but some do. Your program's information sheets should indicate whether or not this is the case. We can certainly inform you about currently recommended vaccines for your program site. We can also help you decide about preventive medications?for malaria, altitude sickness, allergies, or diarrhea, among others.
You should check out the Centers for Disease Control Web site (www.cdc.gov/travel) for the most complete and current information. The site has links to health information on specific destinations, illness outbreaks of concern to international travelers, information about specific diseases that can affect travelers, tips on avoiding food-borne and water-borne illnesses, and, of course, vaccine recommendations and requirements. You should also take a look at the Department of State site (www.travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html), where you can find consular and visa information, and up-to-the-minute advisories on political and security situations abroad.
A few other issues need mentioning. If you take prescription medication, you'll want to pick up, before you leave, all that you'll need while away. Depending on your health insurance coverage, you may need a waiver to obtain more than the usual one month supply. It's a good idea to carry prescription medications in their original containers, and also to have copies of the written prescription for each medication, listing its generic name.
If you've been getting your birth control pills or Nuva Rings from the health center, you can come in to pick up the packs you'll need while you're away.
All women should have their own emergency contraceptive pills on hand when they travel. You can pick those up from us as well.
Take along some condoms with you. STDs, especially HIV, may be far more prevalent where you're going than here at home.
If a regular health care visit will fall due while you're away (e.g. Pap smear or dental exam), you might try to take care of it before you leave. Similarly, if you have any chronic medical problems or conditions, you should come to the health center to discuss your care and needs while away.
If you have significant allergies, or chronic medical needs, consider getting a MedicAlert bracelet.
One final point about safety while traveling. In this country, we take for granted a great many safeguards, whether environmental, legal, or cultural. These safeguards may not exist in other countries. It only makes sense to follow your programs'?and the Department's?recommendations about safe behaviors and activities. Women may be particularly vulnerable to harassment and assault in certain countries.
Be especially careful about alcohol and drug use. All too many problems that students encounter while studying abroad, especially accidental injuries and criminal misadventures, occur with drinking. And, needless to say, you do NOT want to be busted in a foreign country on drug charges: think Midnight Express, and give it a rest!
Be well! Come in to see us! And bon voyage!
Jeff Benson, M.D.
Dudley Coe Health Center