Are You Planning Some International Travel?
An early visit to the Vaden Health Center Travel Clinic should be on your “To Do List” at least 6 to 8 weeks before leaving. The Travel Medicine Clinic at Stanford is open to Stanford students, faculty, staff, spouses, partners and alumni.
Immunizations
- Get the recommended and required immunizations for risks in areas you’ll be visiting
- Get an international certificate of vaccination (required for regions with yellow fever)
Healthy Traveling
- Purify all water, including ice cubes
- Either peel or cook all food
- Get adequate fluids and rest, and avoid overexertion
- Protect yourself from insects
- Use sunscreen – SPF 15 or greater (UVA & UVB)
- Don’t go barefoot; proper footwear can protect you from injuries, cuts, snake bites, insects, parasites, and fungal infections
- Beware of swimming in fresh water in parts of the world where schisto-somiasis (a parasitic disease) occurs
- If indicated, be sure to take your malaria medication
- Avoid sexually transmitted infections
- Avoid tattooing and body piercing
- Do not receive blood transfusions of blood products in third world countries unless it cannot be avoided
Travel Advisories
- If you plan to stay in a country longer than one month, register with the U.S. Embassy
- Protect yourself from the leading cause of injuries among travelers: motor vehicle accidents
- When traveling with medications, make sure they are clearly labeled and in their original containers
- Keep all your medications in a safe place, and preferably with you at all times
- Check your health insurance to see if it covers medical evacuation (Cardinal Care does)
- Protect your passport, credit cards and money (hide it securely on your self)
- Give your family or friends a copy of your itinerary, and a copy of your passport number
- If your travels will take you to remote places,visit your dentist before leaving