Darrell Huang '20, France
Proactively thinking about your personal health needs and how you’ll maintain good health abroad are essential to an enriching international experience.
Pre-Travel Health Planning
Advance preparation will pay off, especially if you need to manage a health condition while traveling. Just as cultures vary from one country to the next, so do healthcare systems, medical care quality, and treatment options. Changes in air quality, elevation, diet, climate, and geography—combined with stressors, culture shock, and exposure to different endemic health risks—can impact everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Understand Health Insurance Coverage and Requirements
If you’re traveling with Harvard sponsorship, you’re required to have health insurance. Many countries also require proof of health insurance coverage to obtain a visa. Check with your health insurance provider about your international coverage options. Learn more about health insurance requirements and options.
Remember, International SOS offers medical support to eligible travelers, but is not a substitute for health insurance.
Research Health Risks
Understand local health risks, required vaccines, and recommended prevention strategies. Refer to destination guides in the International SOS member portal and Assistance App and on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for general and country-specific travel health advice and vaccination requirements.
Consider health risks associated with your itinerary and travel objectives. Interacting with animals, traveling to a remote location, and engaging in physically strenuous activities are just some examples of factors that can increase the likelihood of having a medical incident abroad.
Understand the Medical Care Available at Your Destination
The availability of quality medical care can vary widely between and within countries. Before you arrive in-country, you should have a basic understanding of the local standard of care. This is especially important if you need to access specialist care on a routine or emergency basis. In some locations, complex medical situations may require evacuation to another country. International SOS can help you understand the local medical landscape.
Learn about Traveling with Medication
Be aware of your destination’s prohibited and restricted over-the-counter and prescription medications and supplements. Also consider your sexual and reproductive health needs and the cultural norms and laws that may affect your access to menstruation products and contraceptives. Learn more about traveling with medication, and talk with your doctor, the Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) Travel Clinic, or International SOS to get advice about the availability and legality of any prescription medications you need.
Schedule Doctors’ and Vaccine Appointments
Ideally, you should schedule appointments with your doctors—including your primary care physician, specialists, mental health providers, and your dentist—at least six weeks before your trip. You’re also encouraged to schedule a travel health consultation with the HUHS Travel Clinic or another travel health professional.
As part of these visits, you should obtain any necessary vaccinations—including routine vaccines (like Covid-19 and influenza) and travel vaccines that may be required or recommended for your destination (like typhoid fever and yellow fever). Depending on the health risks for your destination, you might need to factor in enough time to receive multi-stage vaccinations. Travel with your proof of vaccination, and know whether your destination has specific requirements for how to demonstrate proof of vaccination.
If you’re currently seeing a mental health specialist, discuss your travel plans with them early and determine if they can continue your care while you’re abroad (e.g., are they licensed to provide services in another country). Create a plan to maintain your mental wellbeing given potential challenges and stressors abroad, including possible interruption to your regular care. Learn more about mental health and resilient traveling abroad.
Note: Harvard students may be required to obtain Health Clearance from their primary care provider and any specialists they see.
Pack a Health Kit
Pack a health kit of essential items before your trip. This includes prescription medications and copies of prescriptions; lists of allergies and immunization records; medical insurance cards and copies; International SOS card and copy; over-the-counter medications and supplies; and a basic first aid kit.
Staying Healthy While Traveling
Make Safe Food and Drink Choices
Travelers' diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness. Learn how to make safe food and drink choices to reduce your risk of consuming contaminated food or drink.
Practice Good Hygiene and Take Steps to Avoid Disease
Wash your hands often with soap and water (especially before eating) or, if these are unavailable, use hand sanitizer. Be mindful of any local health risks, including endemic diseases, insect-borne illness, stray animals, or current disease outbreaks, and take steps to reduce your exposure. Learn more about navigating viruses and disease outbreaks during travel.
Develop Self-Care Strategies
Living in or visiting a new culture can be both an exciting adventure and a challenging process. Be kind to yourself, and take time for self-care. Prioritize your mental health by learning strategies for self-care and how to access support resources.
Get Medical Advice and Referrals from International SOS
If you’re feeling unwell, upset, or uneasy, contact International SOS for health advice at +1-617-998-0000 or via the Assistance App. Case managers can provide medical guidance, help you navigate medical situations, refer you to an appropriate in-country provider, and follow up to confirm that you receive the care you need.
All content and resources provided in this article are for general informational purposes only. They are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your physician or mental health provider to obtain advice with respect to any medical condition or treatment.
