Planning on leaving Monterey for a few days to attend an important business conference? Or maybe you’re finally taking that family vacation you’ve been dreaming of. Regardless of whether you’re traveling for business or for pleasure, it’s important that you take the right steps to protect your health. One of best ways you can stay healthy throughout the duration of your trip is to get all of your travel immunizations before you leave home.

The process of getting your travel immunizations may seem overwhelming at first but after reading this blog, you’ll confidently by able to get all of the proper vaccines you need. If you live in Monterey County, you have several resources available to help you, including VNA International Travel and Health Clinic. This makes it easy to get all the travel immunizations you need, no matter where your travel destination is.

Keep reading to learn more about how you can get all of your travel immunizations right here in Monterey.

Do Your Research

The more you know about your destination, the more you likely you are to avoid any health threats in the area. For example, if you are traveling to Mexico there are several travel immunizations the CDC recommends you get. However, if you are just traveling within the United Sates, you may not need to get any vaccines at all.

A quick online search can give you a rough idea of what possible health threats you could encounter during your trip. After you have an idea of what to expect, you can share your questions and concerns with your primary healthcare provider to determine what travel immunizations would be best for you.

Travel immunizations can vary on more than just destinations. A patient’s age, life habits, state of health, and other factors can all play a role in determining what vaccines are needed. That’s why it’s crucial that you consult with a health care professional before you pack your bags. Make sure you have a copy of your vaccination record with you when you go to your appointment to help speed up this process.

Schedule Your Appointment As Soon As Possible

In order to create maximum immunity, health professionals recommend scheduling all travel related medical visits at least four to six weeks before you leave the area. Many vaccines come in a series instead of a single shot, so by giving yourself a buffer of at least a month, you are ensuring that you are fully vaccinated in time.

However, life is rarely convenient. If you find yourself having to leave California quickly to return to your home country or to attend an important business meeting halfway around the world, you may feel like you don’t have time to get your travel vaccines. However, that simply isn’t the case. No matter how last minute your travel plans are, you can, and should, make sure your health is well-protected. In fact, resources like the CDC have a website page dedicated to helping last minute travelers remain healthy.

Even if you need to depart soon, do your best to see a health care professional in person. This will ensure that all of your important questions are answered. For some places like VNA International Travel and Health Clinic, appointments only take 30 minutes. You can get your vaccines and pack your bags all in the same day.

Visit VNA Travel Health Clinic

One of the most convenient ways to take care of all of your travel health needs is to visit VNA International Travel Health Clinic. For over a decade, VNA International Travel Health Clinic has been providing  travelers with consultations, immunizations, and prescriptions. Their clinic is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine which means you’ll have access to qualified travel recommendations.

During your appointment, you’ll be able to speak with an experienced travel health RN. Your assigned RN will give you excellent strategies to keep you healthy during your trip based on the following factors:

  • Your Travel Destination
  • The Nature Of Trip
  • Your Health Assessment Results
  • The Duration Of Your Stay
  • Your Itinerary Plans

Best of all, the VNA Travel Health Clinic understands your busy schedule. There’s no need to panic if you’re unable to schedule an appointment 4-6 weeks before your departure. VNA’s trained staff is often able to help provide patients with the best possible travel protection for last minute departures.

You can find the 5-star clinic nestled within the Ryan Ranch area of Monterey at 5 Lower Ragsdale Drive. They are open five days a week, Monday through Friday, by appointment only. Ready to schedule an appointment? You can contact them by calling (831) 648-3777 and within business day a nurse will call you to schedule an appointment.

Remember, no matter how far away your trip is, it is never too early to take the proper steps to protect your health.