Are you ready to travel this summer? After the last year and a half we’ve had, we don’t blame you!  Don’t forget your travel meds and vaccines. And, no we’re not just talking about COVID-19 vaccines, but the other important immunizations you will need to be getting when traveling as well.  There are other viruses and diseases out there that are just as deadly as COVID-19 in many foreign countries. For instance, measles is still prevalent in other parts of the world.

Not sure which vaccines or medicine you may need for this travel filled summer? AFC Urgent Care Danbury is here to help you navigate your summer travels with vaccine updates, COVID-19 guidance and traveller health tips.

Vaccines you may need before traveling

Before heading out on your summer break adventure, be sure to research your destination's travel vaccines and COVID-19 guidelines. You’ll definitely want to know if there are any health conditions going on in a particular country if you do plan on going overseas. Here are the common vaccines we can administer that you may need before you travel:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine
• Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine
• Influenza vaccine
• Meningococcal disease
• Yellow Fever
• Rabies
• Typhoid vaccine
• Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine
• Japanese Encephalitis

Plan ahead before you go

Remember that most vaccines need to be taken weeks in advance in order for them to provide full immunity, so after researching the travel vaccines listed above make sure you give yourself enough time for them to take effect. 2 weeks ahead of time is a good gauge.

Should I get COVID-19 vaccinated before I travel?

The CDC, and AFC,  highly recommend that all travelers get vaccinated as it is the best safeguard against COVID-19, especially now that we are seeing the latest COVID variant, the Delta variant.

With safety in mind, we also suggest:

• Wearing a mask (All airports and other means of transportation require it)
• Social distancing
• Washing your hands
• And packing an extra hand sanitizer just in case

Other COVID-19 guidance when traveling internationally and domestically:

• You must test negative for COVID-19, 1-3 days prior to boarding an international
• A negative viral test is also required 3 days prior to boarding your flight BACK to the U.S from another country
• 3-5 days after you return, the CDC advises that you get tested after traveling internationally.
• Unvaccinated people must quarantine for a full 7 days after traveling internationally, regardless if they test negative. If you’re not vaccinated and you don’t get tested, the CDC recommends that you stay home and quarantine for 10 days. The CDC also suggests that you stay away from high risk individuals for 14 days whether or not you have been tested.
• A COVID-19 vaccine is not required when going from state to state (although it is highly recommended, especially since people are flying in and out of the same airport you may be using)
• Fully COVID-19 vaccinated people traveling domestically do not need to test before or after travel unless it’s required for certain destinations like Hawaii (until July 8th)
• A viral test may be required when traveling to certain destinations like Hawaii. Upon returning to Connecticut it is also recommended to get COVID-19 tested 3-5 days after traveling domestically (state to state). During this time you should also self monitor symptoms and quarantine a full 7 days. If you do not get tested, then you should quarantine for 10 days.

If you need COVID-19 testing before and after your travel, we offer Rapid COVID-19 testing on a walk-in basis with no appointment needed.

Are you ready to travel?

If you and your family are ready to travel this summer, AFC Urgent Care Danbury can help with your pre-travel vaccinations and COVID-19 testing. Our doors are open 7 days a week and there is no appointment needed when visiting any of our three Danbury AFC urgent care locations:

• 2 Main St.
• 100 Mill Plain Rd.
• 76c Newtown Rd.

***We do not offer any of the COVID-19 vaccines, but you can easily schedule one at your local pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens. If you need additional vaccine distribution sites, you can use Connecticut’s vaccine portal to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.

We hope you enjoy your summer vacation and that you come back illness free!