How to: Travel Vaccinations

According to the National Library of Medicine, 22-64% of adventurers get sick as a result of international travel. Today, I am going to talk about how you can avoid catching travel related illnesses and thus avoid increasing the already high statistic on your next international adventure.

I am one of those people with a slight vaccine phobia. When I start thinking about the experience of getting vaccinated, my mind easily gets overwhelmed and fixated on the scary moment. Fortunately, I can say from recent experience that getting vaccinated is truly relatively painless, and the worst part is actually the nervous buildup before.

This spring as a part of a mission trip, I will be traveling to Uganda, Africa. One of the biggest things that my team has run into is the need for various vaccinations and medications in order to enter and stay safe while in the country.

At first, finding out which vaccines we needed and where to get them was overwhelming. Luckily, we discovered a dependable and streamlined way to go about the process.

Step #1

First create a Health Profile through the Albertson's Pharmacy website (linked below).

Vaccinationhttps://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/care-services/travel-health.html

Although Albertson's might not seem like the most reliable place to get informed about your travel vaccinations, the pharmacy actually has a professional and reliable travel medications program that is simple and easy to use.

When creating a profile, you will compile all of your previous vaccination records, your upcoming destination and travel timeline. Officials will then review your records and the vaccine requirements for your destination.

Step #2

After creating your profile, pharmacists from your local Albertson's will call you to talk about which vaccines you need and when you can receive them. For me, after my vaccine records and the country requirements for Uganda where examined, I was notified that I only needed to get the Yellow Fever.

Step #3

Finally, get your vaccines! Make sure you also get vaccine cards with proof of your treatment if needed. Certain countries such as Uganda, require official paper certification for specific vaccines. Be sure to ask the pharmacist if you need a vaccine card.  

Conclusion

And that's it, getting travel vaccines can be accomplished in three easy steps! Without the help of an informed official, trying to figure out which vaccines are necessary, and which are recommended can be very daunting.

I can say from personal experience that the Albertson's pharmacy makes the process simple and easy for the average person. Also, as a real-life testimony of the program, this past week I received the Yellow Fever vaccine through Albertson's, and now I am ready to safely travel!

Comment below on the vaccines you've needed before traveling!