Travel Immunization

Going somewhere? Let the VNA help plan your next trip abroad.

Call the Steamboat VNA Office at 970-879-1632 for a Travel Clinic appointment

• A review your travel itinerary and health history in detail
• An assessment of your risk for acquiring illnesses while abroad
• An individualized recommendation for travel-related vaccines and travel medicines
• Access to all U. S. licensed Travel Vaccines recommended or required for international travel

• Best to call ahead! Plan your first trip to the Travel Clinic 2 months before your departure date.  Several vaccines require a series of shots spread out over 4-6 weeks and take time to work.       
• Prior to departure, you may need an appointment to see you physician to obtain a physical exam, obtain prescription medications for (traveler's diarrhea, anitmalarials, etc) and obtain a statement from your physician to carry prescription medications across borders.
• For travel health consultation, advance appointments are needed. Allow 45 minutes for one person, add 15 minutes for each additional person.

• Travelers should refer to Chapter 5: Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, by Country in CDC Health Information for International Travel, the Yellow Book, for information about which countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry and for which countries CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination. In the absence of a country requirement, CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccination for travel to a country if the traveler's itinerary does not include travel to a yellow fever-endemic area.
• Two Typhoid vaccines are available and both are effective.  Typhim Vi is given by injection and provides 2 years of immunity, licensed for age 2 years and up; Vivotif is a series of 4 capsules taken over 7 days and provides 5 years of immunity, licensed for age 6 years and up.
• Rabies vaccine is again available for the pre-exposure series over a minimum of 21 days.  The Rabies pre-exposure series should be considered for persons whose activities bring them into frequent contact with rabies virus or potentially rabid animals, such as veterinarians and their staff, animal handlers, rabies researchers, and certain laboratory workers. Some international travelers may be candidates for pre-exposure vaccination if they are likely to come in contact with animals in areas where dog or other animal rabies is enzootic, and immediate access to appropriate medical care, including rabies vaccine and immune globulin, could be limited. For more information, visit the CDC Rabies Traveler's Health page.
• A Polio booster vaccine is recommended for adults, when traveling to certain areas of the world. For current information on the status of polio eradication efforts and vaccine recommendations consult the Travel Notices at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ or the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (http://www.polioeradication.org/).
• Influenza (flu) is transmitted year-round in the tropics. It's Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Vaccine.  Flu vaccine supply is plentiful.
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine is NOT recommended for all travelers to Asia. In general, vaccine should be considered by persons spending a month or longer in endemic areas during the trans-mission season, especially if travel will include rural areas. The vaccine should be considered for persons spending <30 days in endemic areas if traveling to areas experiencing epidemic transmission and for persons whose activities include extensive outdoor activities in rural areas. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for U. S. expatriates who plan to reside in areas where Japanese encephalitis is endemic or epidemic (residence during a transmission season). To asses risk for acquiring Japanese encephalitis consult these CDC resources: table & map).

• Bring your vaccination records and list of current medications.
• The additional 10 minutes are needed to complete your registration forms prior to your scheduled appointment time.
• The time also allows for review of your personalized, destination-specific health recommendations.
• Be sure you have eaten breakfast or lunch. Receiving vaccination on an empty stomach is never a good idea!
• Allow plenty of time for your appointment. Reviewing travel health and health recommendations takes time!