Travel Tools

Your Health: Vaccinations and Traveling With Medicines

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website offers details on every medical concern you may have. Here we offer a general review of things you may wish to consider before packing medicines or traveling to a destination where infectious disease may be an issue.

All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health including conditions caused by bacteria in foods and water, high altitude or pollution, insect bites and malaria outbreaks, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals, and more.  The CDC maintains an international travelers' hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747).

Vaccinations:  Ideally, if you’re traveling internationally to a location where infectious disease may be an issue, see your doctor for required immunizations 4 to 6 weeks before your trip.
 The CDC points out that most vaccines take time to become effective in your body and some vaccines must be given in a series over a period of days or sometimes weeks.  If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. You might still benefit from shots or medications and other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad: Here is important information from the CDC:  “A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical condition:

• should carry a letter from the attending physician describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs
• should leave any medications in their original containers and be clearly labeled
• should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.  You may be surprised about what some countries will not allow you to carry or require you to purchase after you have arrived.

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you.  Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked luggage is lost.  To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems; consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet.  You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.”

Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid, Medical Evacuation: Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care abroad can be expensive, and medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000.  Note that U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security Medicare and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.  Go to our Travel Insurance information resources on our website to review the kind of supplemental medical coverage that you may need depending upon your destination, method of travel and length of stay.  We offer short-term medical and emergency insurance products among many options.  Contact your Destination Specialist to determine the best policy for you and your traveling companions.

An up-to-date list of approved medical evacuation providers is maintained by the State Department.