Travel

An early visit to the Vaden Health Center Travel Clinic should be on your “To Do List” at least six to eight 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 and 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.