Before a travel abroad experience, every student should have a general
physical by the primary care provider.
In addition, student should make sure that all of their routine immunizations
are up to date. Other vaccinations, medications, and precautions specific
to each student’s destination will be discussed at your program
orientation meetings; focusing on issues such as malaria, traveler’s
diarrhea, food and water precautions, insect/animal avoidance techniques,
and personal medical history. We suggest you read the Center for Disease
Control Report provided to you at Orientation and then talk with a travel
clinic in your area.
Choose any Travel Clinic in your area.
Prior to an appointment, each student should attempt to locate their childhood
and adult immunization records focusing on the dates for the following:
• Td (Tetanus/Diphtheria) within the past 5-10 years
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – 2 doses within a person’s
lifetime
• Polio-completions of primary series as a child (may need a booster
depending on travel destination)
• Hepatitis B-every college student should consider
• Hepatitis A-every college student traveling outside of the US
should consider
• Miningococcal Meningitis- especially for those living in a dormitory
setting
• Chickenpox-know your level of immunity protection (either by disease,
blood test or vaccine)
• Pneumococcal- for those with certain chronic health conditions
• Influenza-every year for those traveling during Flu season
• Tuberculosis (TB) skin test – before departure and have
it repeated 10-12 weeks upon return
Some ideas on how to locate immunization records:
• Parents
• High School or previous college attended
• Family physician or pediatrician
• Health Department or clinic where vaccinated
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