International Travel Immunizations Program
Many children travel abroad for family vacations, overseas study, field trips, or to accompany their parents on business trips. Parents may not be aware of the special health risks their children face when traveling outside of the country. Travel to certain areas can bring exposure to malaria, typhoid fever, yellow fever, and other diseases that may be especially harmful to children. Proper precautions and immunizations can provide most children with the protection they need.
Our Division of Infectious Diseases offers an International Travel Immunizations Program. As one of the few in the Chicago area, this program provides comprehensive, specialized pediatric travel health services for children, including appropriate immunizations for many communicable diseases, following the guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is led by a team of nationally recognized infectious diseases physicians who specialize in travel medicine and run by pediatric registered nurses who have special training in foreign health issues as they affect the health of children.
Personalized care for young travelers
Based on the completion of a brief travel health and immunization history questionnaire, the pediatric travel nurse will assess the child's individual needs. Specific recommendations provided by one of the infectious diseases travel medicine physicians will be offered to each child based on travel destinations, length of travel, age, and past medical history. Families will receive instructions and general advice on preventive medicine, hygiene, dietary precautions, and other health and safety tips.
Traveler's certificate
Upon completion of the outpatient visit, each child will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination, which serves as validation of the child's travel immunizations. This certificate should be carried with the passport.
Outpatient services
Services are offered on Wednesday afternoons/early evenings at Children's Memorial Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park. Because many travel immunizations are not routine, most insurance carriers will not guarantee coverage or provide reimbursement for these immunizations and outpatient visits; therefore, payment is requested at the time of service. Parents are encouraged to check with the insurance carrier prior to scheduling the appointment to determine coverage. Typical outpatient visit fees include an office visit fee plus a fee for each immunization. Families with more than one child will be given a sliding scale discount on the office visit fee for each subsequent child.
Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information about immunization recommendations related to your destination or information about vaccine-preventable diseases.
For general information about our program, please call 773.880.4187.