So you’ve clicked “buy” on those tickets you’ve been eyeing for the past few weeks, waiting for the prices to drop. But instead of feeling excited, suddenly you think “Oh god, I’m really going” and start wondering about everything you have to prepare for your trip.
Aside from the usual things like clothes and shoes, suddenly you stop and think…
“What about my health?”
As someone who deals with chronic headaches (and other things), the thought of my health issues interfering with my trip can also add another layer of stress when it comes to trip planning.
So this is my travel health checklist I always make sure to go through before every trip.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before I think about vaccines or medications, I start here.
Am I going to a resort or a jungle?
Different trips will have different risks. You need to understand the type of trip you’re going on to plan accordingly.
- Am I going to mostly cities or remote areas?
- How long am I going for?
- What time of year am I going?
- Why am I going?
- What activities am I planning?
This helps me figure out what actually matters for that specific trip without overdoing it.
Documents
- Copy of passport
- Travel Visas/documents
- Proof of vaccination (if required for your trip)
- Travel insurance
- Doctor’s note (if required by airline, cruise, etc)
Vaccines I Might Need
This is not going to be an extensive list of vaccines as these will vary depending on your health needs and your destination. I recommend you reach out to your primary care provider but these are what makes sense for me.
The basics:
- Tetanus, measles
- Flu shot (depending on the season)
- COVID-19
For most international destinations I would also consider updating:
- Hepatitis A (since I like to try a lot of street foods)
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Anything beyond that such as rabies, cholera, japanese encephalitis, etc would be up to discussion with my healthcare provider.
(Quick note: this is just how I approach it. Your needs might be different depending on your health and destination.)
Over-The-Counter Medications
I’ve been told I pack like a walking pharmacy… and honestly that’s fair.
Here’s what I normally bring:
- Pain relief (acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
- Prescription medications (in my case migraine meds and steroid creams)
- Motion sickness (for all those travel days)
- Sleep meds (if needed)
- Allergy meds
- Diarrhea treatment (i.e. loperamide and/or antibiotics)
Nothing complicated, just common medications that can help solve small issues quickly. While you can normally buy these abroad, the quality of medications can’t be guaranteed and I’d rather not have to figure this out while I’m already feeling sick.
Prescription Medications
If you’re managing a chronic health condition, this part matters a bit more.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Bring enough medications for the entire trip
- Check if your insurance covers extended supplies (especially for longer trips)
- Keep a list of medications with you
If you have chronic health conditions and are taking a lot of medications, consider asking your pharmacist to blister pack your medications to make it easier to manage instead of bringing multiple vials and potentially losing them.
If you want more details, check out the CDC Yellowbook, which has a helpful section on travelling with chronic illnesses
Nice-to-Haves
These next few things are just some items that I think give me peace of mind when travelling.
- First-aid kit
- Hand sanitizer
- Eye-mask and ear plugs (for some good sleep on the plane)
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
Medical Devices and Supplies
I don’t have any myself but here are some that I often hear patients talk about:
- Diabetic devices (insulin pumps, blood glucose monitors, sensors, test strips, lancets)
- Needles and syringes
- CPAP machine
- Compression socks
This is not meant to be a perfect or complete checklist and is based on my needs and travel style. The goal isn’t meant to prepare for every possible scenario, but enough to cover the basics so I can relax and enjoy the trip.
For a more comprehensive checklist visit the CDC:
Make your own adjustments to the travel health checklist based on your health needs and talk to your doctor, because at the end of the day, your vacation should feel exciting, not stressful!
