Spring Break Plans? Stay Healthy!
Do you have travel plans this spring? Remember to pack good health! Here are some things to consider to help you stay healthy while you travel.
Get Vaccinated
Protect yourself and your community by getting vaccinated before you travel. You may need to begin preparing two months before your trip.
Vaccines to consider –
- Flu Vaccine – The flu is the number one vaccine-preventable illness of travelers.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) – The MMR vaccine is very important for travelers. Each year, unvaccinated people get measles while in other countries and bring it to the United States. In some cases this has led to outbreaks. To find out more about the MMR vaccine travel recommendation, visit cdc.gov/measles/travelers.html.
- Yellow Fever Vaccine – If you are traveling to certain countries in Africa or South America.
- Typhoid Vaccine – If you are traveling to Asia, Latin America or Africa.
Review Your Health Insurance Coverage
There are many other potential health concerns that even the well-traveled don’t always consider. It is important to review your health care insurance plan to find out what is covered and what is not covered. If there is a gap in your coverage, you may want to think about travel insurance.
Pack a Medical Kit
While emergencies are the worst-case scenario, colds, headaches or the flu could ruin your vacation. You may want to consider packing a medical kit with common medicines for colds, allergies and pain. People with chronic health conditions need to make sure they are prepared for potential travel complications. For example, someone with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) needs to pack an extra inhaler. When in doubt about travel health issues, contact a travel consultant. You can find a listing of travel clinics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website cdc.gov/travel/page/find-clinic or ask your doctor for a recommendation.
