Will you accept my health insurance for payment?
Very few insurance plans cover travel immunizations, therefore we have reasonably priced vaccines across the board. However, our super bill includes all code numbers for reimbursement should you decide to submit an insurance claim on your own.
I am going to Malawi. Can you tell me what shots I need?
Vaccinations depend on a variety of factors like length of stay, type of travel, accommodations, altitude, time of year, and so on. For most destinations, you should at the very least have the Hepatitis A vaccine and a Tetanus shot. Our travel nurse specialist will spend time with you reviewing your health history and itinerary. She will categorize vaccines in order of importance for your specific trip. Also, our medical director will give you prescriptions for antibiotics and anti-malarials should they be indicated.
I am staying in a resort area and in the best hotels, so I am not really at risk -- am I?
The question to ask is, "Who is working in the kitchen and housekeeping at your hotel?" Diseases such as Hepatitis A and B and Malaria know no boundaries. It is best to take advantage of the latest in travel medical information and vaccines. Our specialty is travel medicine.
How far in advance of our trip do we need to make an appointment for vaccines?
The sooner you make an appointment, the better. Optimal immunity usually takes a month and some vaccines require a series of doses. It is best to schedule an appointment as early as possible before departure so you will have the most effective preventive treatment.
I don't need counseling — I already know what I need. Can you waive the office visit fee?
You may not need to listen to the counseling, but we still need to review your medical history prior to vaccine administration. As a result, we cannot waive the visit fee. Bear in mind, however, that our office visit fee is considerably less than most other travel vaccination clinics in New Mexico, and our vaccines are usually less expensive as well.
I'm leaving for Indonesia in four days. Can I still get shots and will they be effective?
It certainly would have been better to make an appointment further in advance of your trip, but we can still offer you protection.
Nothing is required by entrance regulations for the country I am visiting, but is that strictly a good idea?
Requirements are imposed by countries to protect their own citizens. They don't particularly care if you leave with a disease you acquired during your visit there. The U.S. Center for Disease Control makes recommendations for Americans going abroad.
I am taking my children to India and would like to make an appointment for them. I was born in India and don't need immunizations.
It's important to vaccinate first-time visitors to a country, but it is also important to remember that immunity to many indigenous diseases is lost within a few months of leaving a country.
I am traveling to Kenya. Can you tell me how much the shots will cost?
Vaccine costs vary considerably, and often there are multiple vaccine choices for a given disease. Your office visit includes a session with our travel nurse specialist who will spend time with you reviewing your health history and itinerary. She will also categorize vaccines in order of importance for your specific travels per CDC recommendations. Our medical director will give you prescriptions for anti-malarials should they be indicated.
The New Mexico Health Department recommended your service. Does that mean the shots are free?
No. The New Mexico Health Department recommended us because we offer the most comprehensive service at a reasonable cost. The New Mexico Health Department does not offer travel immunizations.