Frequently Asked Questions

How do I schedule an appointment? 


The Travel Medicine Center of Western Massachusetts offers appointments Monday through Friday. Please call 1-800-TRAVMED (872-8633) or 413-584-0381 to speak to our staff.

What pre-travel information do I need?
We will request that you to fill out an online questionnaire that you will e-mail back. This will be part of your electronic medical record. If you don’t wish to do this online, we can obtain this information by phone or when you come to your appointment.

Which Travel Vaccinations Will I Need?
The travel immunizations you may require depend upon your destination(s), length of stay, potential exposure to tropical and infectious diseases, your previous vaccination history, your medical history and your style of traveling.
For example, adventure travelers, trekkers, safari goers and relief workers are often exposed to unsafe food and water, insect bites that transmit diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, and may have more risk of contact with rabid animals. On the other hand, business travelers to the same country or region who stay in urban hotels for brief periods are at much less risk and may not need any shots.
This is why we will give you customized advice based on a careful review of your itinerary.

How long is my appointment?
The consultation will take 30-60 minutes depending on the complexity of your itinerary and the immunizations that we may need to administer. Our first step is to review the details of your trip: Your reasons for traveling (sightseeing, business, adventure, study abroad, etc.), your itinerary (urban? rural?—exposure to unsafe food/water or tropical and infectious diseses) and planned activities (e.g., will you be going on safari, trekking at high altitudes, visiting friend or relatives?). We will use this information to provide you with a customized travel report plus ancillary handouts, including the Travel Health Companion booklet, administer any necessary vaccinations, and prescribe medications, e.g., to prevent malaria, travelers’ diarrhea, or altitude illness, if needed.  You may need to return for booster shots to complete a vaccination series.

Are your services covered by my health insurance? What are the costs?
Our clinic does not participate in any insurance plans or Medicare and we do not file insurance claims. Travel Medicine will provide you with an invoice that shows the CPT and ICD-9 codes that your insurance carrier will use to process your claim to the extent that you are covered. Your insurance company will reimburse you directly. We accept all major credit cards.

When Should I Make My Appointment?
Call us as soon as possible—even if you are leaving in just 1-2 days. Some immunizations are effective immediately (e.g., hepatitis A, routine booster shots) and with others even one shot will help prime your immune system. We can usually administer an essential vaccine series (e.g., rabies and hepatitis B) according to an “accelerated schedule” requiring only 3 weeks.
Note: If you need the yellow fever vaccine to enter a country, this must be administered at least 10 days before arrival.
Even if we are seeing you “at the last minute” we can also provide vital health risk counseling and prescribe medications, such as malaria prophylaxis or antibiotics for travelers’ diarrhea, that you may need.

What is the difference between "required" and "recommended" vaccines?
Required: When a country's government requires a traveler to present formal proof of vaccination (International Certificate of Vaccination) in order to enter that country. Yellow fever and meningitis are the only vaccines currently in this category. Some countries require yellow fever for all travelers. Other countries may require the yellow fever vaccine if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is active. All pilgrims over 2 years old traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj must receive the quadrivalent meningitis vaccine.
Recommended: Vaccines in this category include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, meningitis, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis. Cholera vaccine is not available in the U.S.
Note: Routine immunizations should also be up-to-date and we can administer booster shots, if needed. Vaccines in this category include tetanus (includes diphtheria and pertussis), polio, influenza, varicella (chicken pox) and measles, mumps, rubella.

Why are vaccinations so expensive?
Vaccines, like other medicines, have become increasingly expensive over the years and many of them are made by only one company so there may be no competition and companies charge whatever they think they can get. But vaccines save a lot of lives, money (and misery) and, if chosen carefully, are still a good investment in your health. One benefit of a good travel health clinic is getting just exactly the immunizations you need.

Are there discounts available for groups?
Yes, there are group discounts. Please call our office for information.