Travel Medicine
Services Available At Our Travel Clinic in NYC
International travel is an exciting prospect, especially if you are visiting a place you have never been before. However, there are health issues that may be present in some foreign destinations that we do not commonly face in the United States. For that reason, it is essential to seek pre-travel health advice from a certified travel medicine specialist in order to ensure that you take all necessary medical preparations before your trip.
Travel MD is a travel clinic in NYC helmed by certified travel and tropical medicine specialist, Dr. Primas. Dr. Primas provides accurate health information from the most up-to-date travel medicine sources, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He also has referrals to top physicians globally through his international network of travel experts.
View a few of our service offerings at Travel MD’s travel clinic in NYC below:
Travel Medicine Consultations
The Emporiatric Medicine and Travelers’ Wellness Center provides complete care for the international traveler. Established over two decades ago as one of the first full service international travel health centers in New York City, we are an official Yellow Fever Vaccination site and are certified to endorse the International Certificate of Vaccination. Destination-specific pre-travel consultations are customized to the needs of our patients. During the 1-hour consultation, patients learn all potential risks of their trip and are given specific instructions for contacting us if they become ill abroad. Pre-travel consultations also include immunity screening, prophylactic antibiotic, anti-diarrheal, altitude illness and anti-malaria prescriptions. All routine, required, and recommended vaccinations are available. The risks and benefits of medications and vaccinations are discussed, and all the patient’s questions are answered.
Detailed Itinerary & Advance Planning
Some foreign destinations require more precautions than others. For this reason, it is ideal to have an initial consultation at our travel clinic in NYC four to six weeks before your trip. This will allow enough time to receive any necessary immunizations, medications and documentation needed to travel.
The more information you can provide us about the destination, the better your chances are of remaining healthy during your trip. Specifics should include your medical history, all cities and villages you will be visiting, length of the visit, type of accommodations, activities, time of year and more. Contact us for the complete list of details we will need. With this knowledge, Dr. Primas can tailor your medical plan and offer instructions for the prevention and treatment of illnesses common to travelers of the location you are visiting.
Immunizations at Our Travel Clinic in NYC
Immunizations we provide are routine and travel vaccines which include vaccinations against yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B (including the new 2 dose HepSlav), hepatitis A/B combined vaccine, polio, diphtheria/tetanus, pertussis, Tdap, oral and intramuscular typhoid, oral cholera Japanese encephalitis (including ne IXIARO),meningitis (including the Halal Menveo vaccine) influenza (including H1N1), pneumonia (pneumovax-23 and Prevnar-13), measles, mumps, rubella, MMR, immunoglobulin, Gardasil (HPV), varicella (chickenpox), and shingles (including the new 2 dose Shingrix).
Travel-Related Illness
The most frequently occurring illness among visitors to other nations is traveler’s diarrhea. Often caused by exposure to bacteria, viruses or parasites, traveler’s may experience loose stools, fever, nausea, cramps and/or vomiting. Our travel medicine experts will inform you on how to avoid traveler’s diarrhea in your destination, but general precautions include eating only fruits and vegetables you can peel yourself, opting for dry food items and consuming only thoroughly cooked, hot foods. Stay away from tap water, juices, ice cubes, salads, unpasteurized dairy products and any reheated food. Hydration is important if you do acquire this illness and we can recommend which over-the-counter medications are most effective so you can bring them with you as a precaution
There are numerous diseases that can be transmitted by an insect bite during a foreign trip, including malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, Chickungunya virus, sleeping sickness, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Chaga’s disease, yellow fever and tick-borne encephalitis. Insect repellent is typically the most effective method of prevention for the majority of these conditions. We recommend you use a repellent containing Diethyltoluamide (DEET) in at least a 30 percent concentration for adults and a 10 percent concentration for children or permethrin to receive the maximum protection safely. Apply it directly to exposed skin, but wash it off as soon as your risk of exposure to insects has decreased. In addition, clothing and bed-netting treated with permethrin can help you avoid getting bitten by an insect. Apply it directly to exposed skin, but wash it off as soon as your risk of exposure to insects has decreased. In addition, clothing and bed-netting treated with permethrin can help you avoid getting bitten by an insect.
After the Trip
Before your departure, Dr. Primas will provide you with information on symptoms of many travel-related illnesses to help make you aware of whether to seek medical assistance during or after your trip. If you return home and you are not feeling well, it is essential to schedule an appointment with us. Some of the diseases prevalent in foreign countries have longer incubation periods with no signs showing up until days, weeks or even months after the travel has ended.
COVID-19
As we continue to monitor COVID-19, it is important to address your medical needs and concerns in a caring environment with our trusted team of physicians. Our NYC concierge medicine practice is offering COVID-19 testing, treatment and hospitalization, as well as consultations for business to help you navigate these trying times. Click here to learn more about COVID-19 and the services we provide.