Published: March 20, 2007 11:26 pm         

Health Department opens foreign travel clinic

TERRE HAUTE — Those wishing to travel out of country and need immunizations can now make appointments at the Vigo County Health Department Communicable Disease Clinic to fulfill their foreign travel immunization requirements.

The Health Department is operating a full-service foreign Travel Clinic and is an approved yellow fever vaccination center. Other yellow fever vaccination centers are in Indianapolis, Evansville and Bloomington.

“We were approached by the State Health Department to establish a travel clinic in our area. We’re excited about this new opportunity we have to reach individuals who are planning international travel in the coming months,” says Nan Engle, Communicable Disease Clinic nurse in charge of the new travel clinic. “This travel clinic will offer immunizations to anyone in the Wabash Valley, including Illinois. We actually have no boundary of service.” The clinic doubles as an adult general immunization site. The goal of the clinic is to educate and protect international travelers against vaccine-preventable diseases. The Health Department follows the Centers for Disease Control recommendations for travel to foreign countries. Information on safe food and water consumption, altitude sickness, malaria prevention and insect repellents, traveling with children or while pregnant and general safety issues will be provided along with the necessary immunizations.

The travel clinic will be open for appointments on Mondays or as needed. The costs involved include the cost of the vaccine plus a $5 administration fee. Estimates of costs are available when making appointments. The Travel Clinic takes cash, only. For those interested in the travel requirements recommended by the CDC, visit www.cdc.gov/travel. For more information pertaining to the travel clinic, call the Vigo County Health Department Communicable Disease Clinic at (812) 462-3431.