The Student Health Center can help with your travel needs.

There are no travel immunization requirements for Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan.  Schedule an appointment with the Student Health Center to discuss recommendations for tropical and subtropical environments such as Africa, Latin America, and South America.

Your best source of information is the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC has the latest, up-to-date immunization and travel health information for all destinations. Go directly to the travel page here: (CDC) Traveler’s Health website.

Review your past immunizations.

Your last tetanus shot should be within the past ten years. You should have two MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) shots, at least four polio vaccinations and three hepatitis B shots.

Start Hepatitis A shots.

We recommend starting the Hepatitis A series of two shots, preferably the first shot at least one month before travel. The second shot is six months later.

Take malaria prevention medication.

The most common medications for malaria prevention are taken once a week starting a few days before your trip, during your trip and for four weeks after the trip. The exact medication depends on your destination.

Get immunized against typhoid fever.

While the Student Health Center does not carry the shot version, we can give you a prescription for the oral form.

Use mosquito repellent.

Malaria and Zika are not the only diseases carried by mosquitoes. Read about Dengue Fever and Chikungunya before you travel. There is no vaccine or treatment only supportive measures. Prevent mosquito bites in the first place.

Yellow Fever

If you are traveling to South America, find out if you need a Yellow Fever vaccination.

See the Provider

We recommend that you make an appointment with a provider in the SHC to review your medical history, immunizations, discuss travel recommendations for university-sponsored travel programs. For recreational travel abroad trips, see either your primary care provider, health department, or a travel clinic.  Other resources include:

  • CVS Minute Clinic: 1511 Emancipation Hwy
    • Minute Clinic: 540-899-6874
    • Pharmacy:  540-373-4607
  • Giant Pharmacy:  1245 Emancipation Hwy (located by Eagle Village)
    • 540-33-2734
  • Passport Health: 705 Westwood office park (located off Route 3 by Staples)
    • 540-785-3162

Travel health Kit

Consider bringing these items with you in your carry-on bag:

  • Prescription medication (bring extra supply)
  • Copies of prescriptions and medical history
  • Pain/fever reducer: acetaminophen or ibuprofen
  • Antihistamine: for allergies
  • Motion sickness: meclizine or dimenhydrinate
  • Acid reducer (famotidine or omeprazole)
  • Stool softener or mild laxative
  • Loperamide (Imodium)
  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Bismuth subsalicylate (peptobismol)
  • First aid supplies, i.e., bandages, antiseptic wipes, hand sanitizer, small thermometer
  • Sunscreen (SPF>=30)
  • Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)

Prevention tips

  • Drink bottled or treated water only
  • Avoid ice, street food, and raw foods
  • Eat food that is cooked and served hot
  • Wash hands or use sanitizer before eating