Business Travel

Business and Corporate Travel

Business travel is frequently arranged on short notice and may leave you with insufficient time to be properly immunized.

Travel vaccines and shots

• Consider getting travel immunizations, such as yellow fever and hepatitis A, and updating your routine vaccines now, so you are prepared for unexpected international travel. Since some travel vaccinations are administered in 2-3 doses over several weeks, advance consultation with a Travel Clinics of America physician improves your chances of staying healthy during your business travel.
• Your specific itinerary dictates which additional vaccines you need to protect your health during your business trip.
• Even if you are traveling at the last minute, you may still have enough time for some of the immunizations. See one of our travel doctors now to get vaccinated and learn about other important measures to avoid travel related diseases.
• Keep your International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever indefinitely. The certificate is required for entry into some countries. As of July 2016, the yellow fever vaccine booster requirement was eliminated in the IHR and a completed ICVP is considered valid for the lifetime of the vaccine. Do not wait until the last minute for yellow fever vaccination because the certificate is not valid until 10 days after vaccine administration.
• Consider getting immunized against Hepatitis A, the most common vaccine-preventable disease. It is transmitted through contaminated food and water. Even luxury establishments may have food handlers with poor hygiene, putting you at risk.
• If you travel internationally often, consider getting immunized against Hepatitis B . Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood products, contaminated medical instruments (e.g. during an emergency surgery), and unprotected sex.

Avoiding travel-related illness

• Traveler’s diarrhea can ruin a business trip. Your Travel Clinics of America physician can prescribe antibiotic self-treatment for traveler’s diarrhea and discuss if taking prophylactic medications is advisable for you.
• If you are traveling to malaria risk areas, our travel physicians can prescribe anti-malarial medications. It is imperative that you take ALL your medications exactly as prescribed. In additional to taking anti-malaria prophylaxis medication, you should wear protective clothing and use mosquito repellants containing 30-50% DEET, when outdoors. Wash off with soap and water when back indoors.
• Jet lag can decrease mental acuity and cause insomnia. Our travel doctors can prescribe medications to help your body transition to new time zones.
• Purchase or prepare your own first aid kit and re-stock your kit after each trip. This will save you time looking for pharmacies in foreign countries.
• Bring along enough personal medications to cover unexpected trip delays. Pack all medications and supplies in your carry-on luggage. Bring copies of your prescriptions. Medications produced in other countries may not meet US manufacturing standards.
• Some countries require HIV testing for extended stays.

Travel contingencies and emergencies

• Know where to obtain emergency medical care abroad if you need it. One option is to join (for free) the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at http://www.IAMAT.org for a list of English speaking doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

Evaluate your medical insurance. Consider purchasing medical and evacuation insurance if your policy does not provide sufficient international coverage.