University Medical Center recently launched Travel Clinic for University of Alabama faculty and staff and their families through the UA Faculty-Staff Clinic.
“The clinic is designed to help the international traveler obtain the important vaccines, medications and education needed for a medically safe trip,” said Dr. Thomas Weida, associate dean of Clinical Affairs for the College of Community Health Sciences and chief medical officer for University Medical Center, which the College operates. “Most individuals do not know what vaccines are recommended for their trips, particularly if they are traveling to remote locations.”
Travel Clinic staff will provide the vaccines needed for travel to a particular country, as well as prescriptions for malaria prophylaxis and education on food and water safety.
Appointments are needed and can be made by calling the Faculty-Staff Clinic at 205/348-4696. Patients will be asked to complete some paperwork prior to the visit to ensure medical staff have the most up-to-date information for that particular trip. The services offered through Travel Clinic are not covered by insurance and will need to be paid at the time of the visit. The visit charge ranges from $75 to $100 depending on the complexity of the visit. Vaccines must be paid for in advance, although in a few cases insurance may pay for these.
“Over time we are hoping to expand Travel Clinic to the community as a community service,” Weida said. “Nowhere is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure more important than when traveling abroad.”