Being a student has many perks, and challenges – for many, travel is one of the highlights of their time at University. Being able to travel to new and exotic locations is a momentous and memorable moment.
Many universities are now able to offer their students study years away or exchange programmes to Europe, America and Countries as far away as China and Japan.
Not only does this mean that you will be travelling without your family for the first time, but you will have to plan and manage your time effectively, either by yourself or with the friends you choose to travel with. This will no doubt be an exciting time for all students as they get to spend time in a foreign country, studying what they love. However, this excitement can sometimes cloud your judgement in other areas.
You wouldn’t forget to book your flights abroad or to pack your suitcase, so why would you forget to make a trip to a travel clinic for vital advice and vaccinations?
Vaccinations against common diseases
Early on in a child’s school life, they will be given vaccinations against common diseases and illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis that are usually found within the UK.
This routine vaccination continues until they reach the end of High school, as they will be less vulnerable to these distinct viruses.
Thanks to these inoculations that you receive throughout your school years, the idea of vaccinations for travel might seem unnecessary.
However, with the amount of volatile and exotic viruses that can be found in most foreign countries, you should be taking the initiative to get vaccinated.
Does the area I travel to matter?
Depending on where you travel, your risk of developing certain viruses and diseases is more likely.
Some of the world’s most high-risk areas, like Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Southern America tend to be the hotspots for cases of yellow fever, Hepatitis A & B, strains of encephalitis, tetanus (lockjaw) and rabies.
These are all severe diseases causing lasting damage and can be deadly if left untreated. This is why vaccinations are especially necessary for student travel.
Travelling at a specific time of the year can also mean that more immunisation treatment and precautions need to be put in place.
For instance, if you are choosing to travel during late Spring and Summer periods, the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks carrying malaria and encephalitis are more significant than in the autumn and winter months.
Travelling in this off-peak period is not only cheaper for students, as budgets may be thin, but it can limit your chances of catching an illness that can be difficult to treat abroad without proper medication prescribed before your travels.
Book an appointment at your local travel clinic
Students, young and old, have no natural immunity to diseases that are uncommon here in the UK.
For this reason, when you decide to travel outside the UK, your first port of call should be to book a consultation with a local travel clinic.
This not only means you are giving yourself time to prepare the other student-essential items for your trip but if you do require one or more courses of a vaccine, then you have ample time to get them planned well advance of your trip
How are vaccinations provided?
“Vaccinations are usually provided in the form of an injection that is jabbed into the arm, liquid forms are available for the likes of cholera, but this is not the norm.
Multiple courses of one vaccine may be required to cover you fully. These will usually be spaced out over a week to month period of time – this is why it is important to leave ample time to be as protected as possible before you leave.
Combo vaccinations for hepatitis are usually given over a 2 to 3-week basis with multiple courses required.
Travel clinicians tailor their advice to you and your travel plans, if you know your plans for your trip and the locations you will be staying at, detailed travel plans and information will be provided to keep you safe.
As for universal travel advice, we would recommend that you:
○ Avoid contact with other people’s bodily fluids like blood and salvia
○ Avoid contact with wild and unvaccinated, domesticated animals
○ Practice basic hygiene while abroad at all times
○ Use mosquito nets and bug stray when sleeping and travelling around
○ Avoid food that has been cooked by other people, including street food
○Avoid eating food with utensils and plates that you haven’t cleaned or brought yourself.
Travel Clinic Near Me has a network of talented travel clinicians and local travel clinics to provide you with the travel advice and vaccinations that you need to keep yourself safe before, during and after your travels: https://www.travelclinicnearme.co.uk/.
