Travel to the developing world requires careful preparation if it is to be a healthy, enjoyable experience. Such preparation entails passport acquisition, proper packing, learning about the destination, and making arrangements to safeguard one's health. A particular branch of medicine, termed travel health or emporiatrics, aims to properly prepare travelers for contact with foreign diseases. Travel clinics provide vaccinations against exotic and routine illness as well as prevention and treatment regimens for malaria and traveler's diarrhea. The West Virginia University International Travel Clinic provides an in-depth clinical and computer assessment of any itinerary with specific recommendations and on-site vaccinations. It is the only designated yellow fever vaccination site in north-central West Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Travel Guidelines, the International Association of Medical Assistance to Traveler's (IAMAT) and TRAVAX Encompass (a weekly updated travel information system) and SOS International Alerts are utilized as resources. An extensive travel packet and yellow international certificate of vaccination are provided at your visit.

Services offered by the WVU International Travel Clinic:

The travel clinic provides comprehensive and "mini-travel" visits. Visits are determined by risk assessment based on destination, itinerary, length of stay and nature of travel. A comprehensive travel appointment lasts one hour; mini-travel appointments last 30 minutes.

Appointments are required.
To schedule your appointment: call (304) 293-1379 between 9:00 and 4:00. Appointments are available daily between 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Tuesdays 4:30 pm-7:00 pm.

What you should bring to your appointment:

• Questionnaire For International Travelers (Word Document)
• Travel dates, itinerary, and type of accommodations.
• Past immunization records: information including tetanus, Hepatitis B, past travel immunizations and a yellow international certificate of vaccination if you have one.
• List of allergies and any medications you are currently taking.
• Recommendations, if any, from travel agent or organization.
• Knowledge of any future international travel plans.
• Payment.

Fee:

• Students with Health Service Fee: $25.00-45.00 plus vaccination costs Cash, check, Mountie Bounty, or may bill Student Account
  Physicals required by WVU's Study Abroad Program are not provided by the travel clinic. WVU students seeking physicals should call the central appointment desk at 293-2311 to schedule.
  
  
• Non-student/General Public: $45.00-80.00 plus vaccination costs
  
  
• Payment required at time of service by cash or check.
  Sorry, credit cards are not accepted.
  We do not bill private insurance. We are not a Medicare provider.

Travel Pitfalls:

1. Not allowing enough time to complete vaccinations is one of the most common mistakes travelers make. It is advisable to start at least six weeks (in some cases more) before departure. Ideally ,appointments should be requested at least two months prior to departure.
2. Don't assume that vaccinations are not a good idea just because the destination country doesn't require them. Their regulations are usually more concerned with the health of their own citizenry than with your health.
3. Over treatment and under treatment can be avoided if recommendations are based on travel type/duration/regional itinerary rather than on just a list of the destination countries.

Staff:

Jackie Mier, R.N., (Certificate in Travel Health™ )
Dee Dee Lewis, R.N.
Gregory Juckett, M.D., MPH (American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene’s Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine, and Certificate in Travel Health™ )

Address:

Student Health Service International Travel Clinic
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, PO Box 9247, Morgantown, WV 26506

PHONE (304)293-1379
FAX (304) 293-2713