Travel Health Preparation: Vaccines, Meds, and Insurance
Avoid medical emergencies abroad by handling vaccines, prescriptions, and insurance before your trip. Covers travel clinic visits, first aid kits, destination-specific health risks, and insurance coverage gaps.
Last updated:
0 of 32 completed0%
Copied!
Travel Clinic and Vaccinations
Book a travel clinic appointment at least 6 weeks before departure
Many vaccines need 2-3 doses spread over 4-6 weeks to reach full effectiveness. Walk-in appointments are often unavailable at specialized travel clinics, so book early.
Bring your vaccination history and current medication list to the appointment
Get routine vaccines updated: Tetanus, MMR, Flu, and COVID boosters
Tetanus boosters last 10 years. If yours expired even a month ago, get it redone since wound infections abroad are harder to treat than at home.
Get destination-specific vaccines: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Hepatitis A is recommended for almost every developing country and provides protection for 20+ years after 2 doses. Yellow Fever certificates are checked at borders in 27 African and South American countries.
Ask about Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for rural Asia travel
This vaccine requires 2 doses given 28 days apart and costs $300-400 total. It is only necessary for stays longer than 1 month in rural or agricultural areas of Southeast Asia.
Request a signed International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card)
This WHO-issued yellow booklet is the only accepted proof of Yellow Fever vaccination at international borders. Photocopies and digital records are not accepted.
Ask about rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis for adventure or rural travel
The pre-exposure series is 3 doses over 21-28 days. Without it, a bite from a stray dog requires immediate evacuation to a city with rabies immunoglobulin, which is scarce in rural areas.
Prescriptions and Medications
Refill all current prescriptions with enough supply for the entire trip plus 2 extra weeks
Pharmacies abroad may not carry your exact medication or dosage. The extra 2-week buffer covers unexpected delays, lost luggage, or extended stays.
Get a doctor letter listing all medications with generic names and dosages
Some countries classify common medications as controlled substances. Codeine is banned in Japan and the UAE, and pseudoephedrine is restricted in Mexico. A doctor letter prevents confiscation at customs.
Fill prescriptions for antimalarials if traveling to endemic regions
Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) has fewer side effects but costs more. Doxycycline is cheaper but causes sun sensitivity, which matters in tropical destinations. Start the regimen before departure per your doctor instructions.
Pack prescription medications in original labeled pharmacy bottles
Split medications between carry-on and checked luggage
If checked luggage is lost or delayed, having a 3-5 day supply in your carry-on prevents missed doses. Keep the doctor letter with your carry-on supply.
Ask your doctor for a ciprofloxacin prescription for traveler diarrhea
Traveler diarrhea affects 30-70% of visitors to developing countries. A single 3-day course of antibiotics can cut illness duration from 5 days to 1-2 days.
First Aid Kit
Pack adhesive bandages, gauze pads, and medical tape
Include antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment
Tropical wounds get infected 3-4 times faster than in temperate climates due to humidity and bacteria. Clean and cover even minor scrapes immediately.
Pack oral rehydration salts (at least 6 packets)
ORS packets weigh almost nothing and treat dehydration from diarrhea, heat exhaustion, or food poisoning. Dissolve 1 packet in 1 liter of clean water and sip over 2-3 hours.
Include pain relievers: ibuprofen and acetaminophen
Pack antihistamine tablets for allergic reactions
New foods, insect stings, and tropical plants can trigger unexpected allergic reactions. Diphenhydramine (25mg tablets) handles mild to moderate reactions within 20-30 minutes.
Add hydrocortisone cream for insect bites and rashes
Include a digital thermometer
A fever above 101.3F (38.5C) in a malaria zone warrants immediate medical attention. Knowing your exact temperature helps doctors assess severity quickly.
Pack sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and lip balm with SPF
Travel Health Insurance
Purchase travel health insurance that covers your destination countries
Your domestic health insurance likely has zero coverage abroad. Travel health policies run $40-80 for a 2-week trip and cover up to $100,000-250,000 in medical expenses.
Verify the policy includes emergency medical evacuation
Medical evacuation by air ambulance costs $25,000-100,000+ out of pocket. Confirm your policy covers at least $100,000 in evacuation costs, especially for remote or developing destinations.
Check if the policy covers adventure activities and sports
Scuba diving, motorcycling, and skiing are excluded from most standard policies. If your trip includes these activities, pay the adventure sports rider, which typically adds 15-30% to the premium.
Save the insurance company 24/7 emergency phone number in your phone
Print a copy of your insurance card and policy summary
Hospitals in many countries require proof of insurance or upfront cash payment before treatment. A printed policy summary speeds up admission when you cannot access your phone or email.
Understand the claim process: direct billing vs. reimbursement
Destination Health Research
Check the CDC Travelers Health page for your destination
The CDC website lists country-specific health notices, required vaccines, and disease outbreaks updated weekly. Search "CDC traveler health" plus your country name for direct results.
Identify the nearest quality hospital or clinic at your destination
The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT) maintains a free directory of vetted, English-speaking doctors in 90+ countries.
Research local water safety and food hygiene standards
Symptoms start within 6-12 hours of arrival at altitude. Acetazolamide (Diamox) taken 24 hours before ascent reduces severity by 50%. Ask your travel clinic doctor for a prescription.
Review dengue, Zika, and chikungunya risk for tropical destinations
These mosquito-borne diseases have no vaccine or treatment. Prevention is entirely about bite avoidance: DEET-based repellent, long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and air-conditioned or screened accommodations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I avoid overpacking?
Lay out everything you think you need, then remove 30% of it. Pack items that mix and match into multiple outfits using neutral colors that work with everything. Laundry services exist almost everywhere; plan to wash clothes every 4-5 days rather than packing a fresh outfit for each day.
Should I use packing cubes?
Packing cubes compress clothing by 20-30% and keep your bag organized throughout the trip. Color-coding cubes by clothing type (tops, bottoms, underwear) eliminates rummaging through the entire bag for one item. Compression cubes with dual zippers squeeze the most air out and are worth the $5-10 premium over standard cubes.
What size luggage should I bring?
A carry-on bag (22x14x9 inches) handles trips up to 10 days if you pack strategically and plan to do laundry. Checking a bag adds 30-45 minutes per flight in wait time and carries a 1-3% chance of loss or delay. For trips under a week, a 40-liter backpack offers more mobility than a rolling suitcase on cobblestones, stairs, and public transit.
What items do travelers forget most often?
Phone chargers, adapters, prescription medications, and sunscreen are the top four forgotten items. Create a packing checklist on your phone and check items off as they go into the bag, not before. Pack a universal power adapter if traveling internationally; outlet shapes differ across regions and buying one at the airport costs 3-4x the online price.
How do I pack toiletries efficiently?
Transfer products into reusable silicone travel bottles (GoToob, 3 oz size) rather than packing full-size containers. Solid alternatives like shampoo bars and toothpaste tablets eliminate liquid restrictions entirely for carry-on travel. Hotels provide shampoo, conditioner, and soap; skip packing these unless you have specific brand requirements.