Traveling Beans

Survival Travel Tip: Pre-departure travel clinic visit

I think of this now only because I have been sick for the past few days, and a random visit I made to a travel clinic back in September has made the difference.

Around 2 months before you go, book an appointment with a travel clinic. They're trained to work with people like us and brief you on all the health issues you may or may not encounter in the countries you are headed to. They give out all the shots you need; even the really weird ones that the local hospital won't have. Like Japanese Encephalitis. They also steer you away from shots you think you need but actually don't. I know they saved me some money. But go sooner rather than later, I say two months at least because some shots you need require being given in a series over weeks and sometimes months. Immunity is sweet.

Travel clinics also have the ability to write out prescriptions for common traveling sicknesses. I was able to get prescription drugs that saved me from la duzi (diarreah) in China, and anti-biotics that have recently cured me of bronchitis in Holland. They also provide you with a directory of all the major hospitals and clinics in the countries you are traveling to, should things get a little crazy. And "Travel Clinic" gives it all to you in "Travel Size." It's great.

Peace of mind when you travel, as you can't prevent all illness and injury, but if you can cover the little things, it helps.

Then it's the big things you have to worry about.

::pause to think about that::

::hits Holland bike rush hour::

Hey, you do the best you can.

posted by B-rit @ 7:17 PM