Elon University Travel Clinic

Congratulations on your participation in the Elon University Study Abroad program. Your course abroad will be a wonderful opportunity to learn in an engaged atmosphere.

An important part of the preparation process for study abroad is looking forward to health related needs. One way to best prepare yourself medically is to review recommended and required for the countries that you may be visiting. As part of the state’s vaccination requirements you may have already received some of these vaccinations; however, there are recommended and required vaccines beyond your initial pre-matriculation vaccinations and some countries require vaccines that are not required in the United States.

Visit the immunizations webpage to learn more about which vaccinations may be required or recommended for your study abroad program.

The University has partnered with Maxim Health systems to offer recommended and required travel vaccinations and vaccinations in a clinic format. This clinic allows you to receive the recommended and required vaccines (or prescriptions for them) on campus. The study abroad vaccination clinic will be conducted on Thursday, November 10, 2011, from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm in McKinnon Hall.  Pre-registration is required. Online pre-registration for the study abroad vaccination clinic will begin at 8:00 am on Monday, September 5, 2011 and will run until 5:00 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011.

You may register online for the clinic here.

You will secure your vaccines and schedule the appointment at that time.

Please note that once you have reserved the vaccines you will be financially responsible for the total cost of the vaccines unless you cancel your order and appointment time by 5:00 pm on November 4, 2011, even if you find out you had already received the vaccination in the recent past the order will still need to be canceled in order for you not to be charged.

Prices for the Fall 2011 Travel Clinic

We recommend that you consult with your parents about the vaccines so that you can make an informed decision prior to registration and scheduling an appointment. Payment for the vaccines is due at time of service (cash, check, or MasterCard /Visa) or it can be billed to your student account. The cost for some of the vaccines may be reimbursable by your health insurance carrier or flexible spending account. Neither the University nor Maxim can file insurance claims for you but they will provide documentation so that you or your parents can file for reimbursement from your insurance company or flexible benefits plan.

Some additional points to consider and discuss with your family:

• For required vaccines you will not be able to enter the country unless you have proof that you have received them.
• Most countries do not have required vaccines but we urge you to consider the recommended vaccines. Many of you will be visiting bordering countries or regions and will want to make sure you are prepared in case you decide to take an excursion trip in an affected area.
• If you have a chronic illness or any other current medical concern, you will want to consult with your primary care physician or specialist to discuss the required or recommended vaccines prior to registration.
• For some medications (namely anti-malarial) the staff will provide you with a prescription. You will need to take the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice to have them filled and take the medication according to the directions.
• If you have medications that you take on a daily basis (including oral contraceptives), you will want to consult with your provider to make sure you have an adequate supply or the prescriptions necessary to receive your medications in the country in which you are studying.
• For flu precautions and to treat other types of illness you may want to create a “flu kit” to take with you that includes cold/flu medicine , fever reducer, anti-diarrheal and anti-nausea medications, a thermometer, hand sanitizer and a mask. If you did not receive a seasonal flu vaccine on campus, please visit the Elon flu web site at www.elon.edu/flu. There is a list of area fee for service providers for seasonal flu vaccines.
• If you do not participate in the study abroad vaccination clinic and decide later on that you want to receive vaccines, please consult the Health Services web site which lists the off campus locations in the state that may administer the vaccines. If you are out of state, your local health department may also have that information about those locations on your home area.
• Kena Shrader, program assistant in the R.N. Ellington Health and Counseling Center, can answer questions you may have about study abroad vaccines or the clinic. Mrs. Shrader can be reached by phone at (336) 278-7230 during normal business hours or by e-mail at kshrader@elon.edu.

Good luck and best wishes for a wonderful study abroad experience.

Jana Lynn Patterson
Assistant Vice President for Student Life

Leigh-Anne Royster
Director of Student Development

v. 08/08/11