Travel Products & Resources

Travel medicine specialists are knowledgeable about the risks one may encounter when traveling overseas. The consult includes a review of the traveler’s medical history, immunization status, and itinerary, and then counsels about: precautions one needs to take to avoid insect-borne diseases, prevent gastrointestinal problems, the vaccines needed for safe travel, and provides prescriptions needed for safe travel.

A lot of information is available on the internet, and vaccines are easily available at various locations. However, the personalized, individualized service provided by a travel medicine specialist is invaluable for safe travel.

Yes. The International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) provides ongoing continuing medical education and also administers a certifying exam. Those who have passed the exam and keep up with their education have a special designation as a travel medicine specialist.

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTM&H) also has certifying exams and continuing medical education. Physicians who pass this exam are certified in tropical medicine. This is important for travelers who return from exotic travels and migrants.

Dr. MAVUNDA IS CERTIFIED BY BOTH ISTM AND ASTM&H.

Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes that are present in many countries. Yellow fever disease is present in only some countries. Yellow fever is a deadly disease.

The traveler needs to be vaccinated so that they do not get the deadly disease and also so that they do not transmit it.

Any person who has exposure to animals and bats needs the rabies vaccine. This includes veterinarians and their staff, and tourists who travel to areas where there are stray dogs and other wild animals that interact with humans. Wild-life photographers and hunters, adventurous travelers with itineraries that include rural areas, and people moving to developing countries for long term should also consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccines. US travelers visiting friends and family in developing countries, especially children should get the vaccine.

Yes. However, it is not available in the US. There are different effective medications for malaria prophylaxis. A travel medicine specialist can advise about which medication needs to be used. (Often, we have people who are prescribed the wrong medication by healthcare providers who are not familiar with the types of malaria in different parts of the world.)

Vaccines for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya fever and tick-borne encephalitis are available in the US

This will depend on your itinerary, your health and the previous immunizations that you may have had. Before you travel, you also need to make sure that your routine immunizations (such as Hepatitis, Measles and Tetanus) are up to date. These can be given at any time. If it is too late to provide certain vaccines, such as Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies – we will provide counselling on preventive measures and prescriptions that can used for safe travel.

Of course, it is always best to book an appointment as soon as you pay for your trip.

The required vaccines depend on your destination, health status, and travel duration. Common travel vaccines include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, yellow fever, and tetanus. Although Hepatitis A, B and Tetanus are considered routine immunizations, we find that adults are under-vaccinated.

The effectiveness timeframe varies by vaccine. Some vaccines may start working within a few days, while others require weeks to build full immunity. We advise scheduling your vaccinations at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to travel when possible.

Even if you have previous vaccinations, a travel clinic visit is important for assessing your current immunization status, providing booster shots if needed, and giving advice about emerging health risks at your destination.

Costs vary depending on the vaccines required and services provided. Our clinic offers transparent pricing and will provide an estimate during your consultation. Insurance coverage may also apply.

Yes, our travel clinic can assess your need for malaria prophylaxis based on your destination and medical history and prescribe appropriate medications to keep you protected.

Yes, our clinic provides official yellow fever vaccination certificates that comply with international regulations, required by some countries for entry. Sometimes, travelers may not be able to receive the yellow fever vaccine. After reviewing the risk of acquiring or transmitting yellow fever infection versus the risk of side effects from the yellow fever vaccine, we can provide yellow fever exemption certificate as well. These are acceptable world-wide, as long as the correct CDC/Department of Health issued stamps are used.

Please bring your passport, vaccination records, travel itinerary, and any medical history details to help us provide the best care.

We recommend visiting a travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure to allow enough time for vaccinations to take effect and for any necessary follow-ups.

Yes. We provide both pre-exposure as well as post-exposure Rabies vaccines. Pre-exposure rabies vaccine may be needed for travelers to rural parts of the world. Veterinarians or students and scientists who may encounter the rabies virus also need the pre-exposure rabies vaccine.

In the US and around the world, the number of deaths due to rabies is increasing.

Yes – Because the immune system is completely replaced, patients require a strictly controlled revaccination schedule, usually starting 6 to 12 months post-transplant.

Because post-transplant revaccination requires highly specialized timing and carries a high risk with live vaccines, it is strongly advised to avoid standard retail pharmacies for your initial vaccine series and get the vaccines at a specialized center such as International Travel Clinic.

Live attenuated vaccines need to be administered after careful evaluation of the patient’s medical history and the medications that they may be taking. In some cases, we may ask the patient to stop immunosuppressive medications for a certain period so that the vaccine can be given. This decision needs to be made after careful discussion with the patient and provider.

We’ll review your vaccination history to determine which immunizations you may already have and only recommend those that are appropriate for your travel plans.

We have had clients who have reviewed the CDC guidelines for travel to a certain destination and then they have received vaccines at the pharmacy. Occasionally, these patients have not received the appropriate vaccines. Our goal is to maximize protection prior to travel. Since Dr. Mavunda has more than 30 years of experience working with immunizations for all ages, we can rectify the problem.

Pharmacies can bill most health insurances for routine immunizations. We recommend contacting us as soon as travel plans are made so that we can recommend what exactly you need and then get those vaccines at the pharmacy.

Yes. Even with limited time before departure, we can recommend vaccines, medications, and preventive strategies that may still benefit your trip.

Recommendations are based on your previous immunization history, type of accommodations, destination, planned activities, length of stay, current health guidance, and your personal medical history to provide care tailored to your travel plans.

Yes. If you become ill during or after your trip, we evaluate travel-related illnesses and help determine appropriate next steps based on your symptoms and travel history. The advantage of having a pre-travel consultation is that we are available 24 hours a day by email. When we do the thorough consultation, we provide you with prescriptions of medications that you may need during your travel. So, even when you are traveling, if you have questions or problems during travel, we can help.

Absolutely. We provide individualized travel health planning for travelers of all ages, including children, seniors, and those with chronic medical conditions.

Children with special needs may have mobility issues (wheelchair bound), may be oxygen or technology dependent, may have behavior issues or genetic problems.

Dr. Mavunda has over 40 years’ experience working with children of all ages – from premature infants born weighing 500gm to young adults who may have chronic medical problems. The International Travel Clinic is well-equipped to help parents prepare for travel with children with various medical problems.