Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
The following are frequently asked questions from travelers regarding the services of Mount Auburn Hospital's Travel Medicine Center
What should I expect at my travel consultation?
Golden Palace Thailand, Bangkok
An appointment with our staff generally takes 45-90 minutes. The more information you bring to the appointment, the more efficient we can be. Please bring any past vaccination information you may have as well as a detailed itinerary for your trip.
Your consultation will include:
- Country specific analysis of your itinerary and activities
- Review of your medical and immunization history to develop an individualized plan
- Advice and prescriptions for medications to prevent malaria, treat diarrhea, motion sickness, and altitude sickness
- Country specific information, health hints, and useful web sites
- Immunizations, both special and routine immunizations available
- International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis as approved by the World Health Organization
- Reference materials for travelers with chronic illness (such as diabetes, HIV, and chronic lung disease)
Why can’t the Travel Medicine Center give me a list of the immunizations I’ll need before my appointment?
Such a list does not exist. Determining what you’ll need is based many factors including: destination, length of stay, what you’ll be doing, health history, and past immunization history. This is not a quick matter which can be discussed by telephone. Scheduling an appointment with our staff will assure you of accurate, up-to-date information tailored to your specific needs.
How soon before I travel do I need an appointment?
Peru Machu Pichu, Cuczo
How soon you need to be seen depends on where you are going, what you’ll be doing and how long you’ll be there.
- For the average one to two week tourist/ business trip being seen 2 weeks to 1 month before travel is ideal. It is still worthwhile to be seen even if you will be traveling with next day!
- Travelers staying more than three weeks or planning to be in remote areas may need more time to prepare. 4 weeks to 8 weeks is advised.
What should I do if I’m sick after travel or would like to be screened for infectious diseases?
If you are ill after travel, contact your primary care physician for either an evaluation or a referral to the Division of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital.
Other Resources
Center for Disease Control
U.S. Department of State
IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers)
