Frequently Asked Questions:
1) Why should I consult with a doctor who
specializes in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine before I travel?
2) Why should I have a travel consultation if I
am visiting my country of origin?
3) Why should I have a consultation if no
vaccines are "required" by the country?
4) How long before I travel should I make an
appointment?
5) What should I do if I have less than two weeks
before travel?
6) What information should I bring for my
appointment?
7) What is the difference between required and
recommended vaccinations?
8) Why should I receive vaccines such as
hepatitis, typhoid, or polio if I grew up in a country where these diseases are
common?
9) Are there side effects from the vaccines?
10) What is the cost of the vaccines?
11) Why is cholera vaccine not generally
available?
12) Why should I take anti-malarial
medicines if I grew up in a country with malaria?
13) Are the malaria medicines dangerous to take?
14) Do I need to be concerned about high altitude
sickness?
15) How long will my appointment take?
16) What other resources are available to find
out about travel medicine and vaccine recommendations?
17) Why does your clinic not bill insurance?
Answers
1) Why should I consult with a doctor who
specializes in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine before I travel?
A) Our physicians have 15 years personal
experience in tropical medicine and specialized training which can save you time
and money. Inexperienced physicians and official and government travel sites
will often recommend excessive vaccinations and prescriptions for a country
specific itinerary that may not be needed for your specific itinerary. By
combining our expertise and knowledge of your health history and travel plans we
can find the best and safest medicines and vaccines for your needs. Our
knowledge of non-vaccine and non-prescription preventative health measures
cannot be offered by any website or inexperienced physicians.
2) Why should I have a travel consultation if I
am visiting my country of origin?
A) Individuals returning to
the country where they were born or raised have the highest rate
of acquiring travel-related illness. Immunity is not life-long. Individuals
returning to visit family and relatives are more likely to visit less developed
areas, eat potentially contaminated food and drink from water sources that are
incompletely treated.
3) Why should I have a consultation if vaccines
are not "required" by the country?
A) If you are traveling to
Canada, Western Europe, Singapore or Japan, travel consultations are usually not
be needed for healthy adults. Individuals with special health concerns or long
itineraries may find a consultation helpful.
Travel to Central America (including Mexico),
South America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe is worthy of consultation even
if vaccines are not "required" because of the many other possible travel-related
illnesses.
4) How long before I travel should I make an appointment?
A) You should see us about four weeks before
you travel if vaccines are likely to be needed. It requires three to four weeks
for your body to develop full protective immunity after the vaccination is
completed. Thus, it is best to have to vaccines started at least three weeks
before you travel. On infrequent occasions we may advise you to not travel or
modify your travel plans because of your specific health concerns or health
history.
5) What should I do If I have less than two weeks
before travel?
A) If you have less
than two weeks before your trip, a consultation may be of benefit; depending on
how long you are traveling and where you are going. Most vaccines will not be
effective for three weeks unless you have had prior immunization with the
specific vaccine. However, vaccination prior to exposure is better than no
protection. Older patients may be a candidate for immunoglobulin for prevention
against Hepatitis A. Prescriptions also may be needed for malaria protection and
travelers' diarrhea treatment. If your trip is longer than three weeks from the
time of the vaccine administration, then vaccines will be of benefit. The advice
on non-prescription health prevention measures may be especially beneficial for
those not receiving vaccinations.
6) What information should I bring for my appointment?
A) You should bring your itinerary, including
dates of stay in each country. It is very helpful to have the exact names of
provinces and cities, as our database uses specific place names to identify
areas of endemic tropical diseases. You should have a good idea of the types of
activities you will be undertaking and any possible side excursions you are
considering. You will need to let us know your immunization history, so it is
helpful to bring your immunization record, if available. You should also be
prepared to detail your health history and medications being used and any
vaccine or medication allergies.
7) What is the difference between required and recommended
vaccinations?
A) There is a huge difference between
"Required" vaccines and "Recommended" vaccines. In general, "Required
vaccinations" are for the protection of the visited country against the disease
you might bring into their country. "Recommended vaccines" are ones that you
should have for your own health protection. Yellow Fever Vaccine is required for
travel to some countries whose mosquitoes could acquire the disease from you, if
you are not protected from this disease; however you should also consider other
vaccines for your protection such as typhoid, Hepatitis A, and others in
countries that require only Yellow Fever vaccination.
8) Why should I receive vaccines such as
hepatitis, typhoid, or polio if I grew up in a country where these diseases are
common?
A) Immunity is not life
long! Even if you had exposure to these diseases earlier in life, you may
not be protected from these diseases.
9) Are there side effects from the vaccines?
A) Most vaccines have minimal
side affects beyond a slightly sore arm at the injection site. Persons being
vaccinated will receive a vaccine information sheet (VIS), which describes the
benefits, and possible common and uncommon side affects. You need to inform us
any prior history of adverse vaccine reactions.
Vaccine Information Sheets are available on the
web at
http://www.immunize.org/VIS
10) What is the cost of the vaccines?
A) Please call for specific
pricing information. Manufacturer's prices change frequently. We try to purchase
vaccines at the lowest cost to keep your expenses down.
11) Why is cholera
vaccine not generally available?
A) The cholera vaccine is
actually a minimally effective vaccine and it has a high incidence of adverse
reactions. Thus, is not recommended for anyone except those doing cholera
research or the treatment of diagnosed illness.
12) Why should I take anti-malarial medicines if
I grew up in a country with Malaria?
A) Immunity to malaria does
not prevent you from acquiring the disease again. Immunity is incomplete and
declines with time.
13) Are the malaria medicines dangerous to take?
A) Adverse affects of the
anti-malarial medications are specific to the medicine being used and one's own
health history and potential adverse drug interactions. Aralen (chloroquine),
Malarone (atavoquone/proguanil) and Vibramycin (doxycycline) are generally very
well tolerated. Larium (mefloquine) has a reputation for major adverse
reactions. Please see our Malaria information for more specific information.
(References)
14) Do I need to be concerned about high altitude
sickness?
A) Yes, many travelers who
plan to sleep at altitudes greater than 6,000 to 8,000 feet are susceptible to
minor or occasionally life-threatening high altitude sickness. This is
potentially a serious matter. We will advise you on this problem if you are
planning to stay at high altitude.
15) How long will my appointment take?
A) On average, consultations
run from 20 to 45 minutes, depending upon number of people being seen and your
itinerary. Vaccinations are given after the consultation. We require you to stay
for a few minutes after your vaccinations. Allow at least one hour for the
physician consultation, vaccine administration and observation period.
16) What other resources are available to find
out about travel medicine and vaccine recommendations?
A) The most comprehensive
website is the Center for Disease Control. Note that travel destination
information is country specific, and not tailored to any individual.
17) Why does your clinic not bill insurance?
A) The majority of insurance
companies will not pay for a pre-travel consultation and vaccination, and those
who do pay, will not reimburse for our full vaccine costs.
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