Public Health Travel Clinic

Please see 2009 site closure schedule on King County furlough days which includes most Public Health offices, Public Health Centers and services.

IMPORTANT
Does your trip require yellow fever vaccine?

The Public Health Travel Clinic is currently unable to receive their usual supplies of yellow fever, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccines. These shortages are occurring across the nation, not just in King County. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarantee availability of travel vaccines that are part of these shortages.

Yellow fever: Public Health has been restricted in our supply of single doses of yellow fever vaccine for our travel clients. The only manufacturer of this product can provide the vaccine in five-dose vials and a limited number of single doses. Doses in the five-dose vial must be used within one hour of opening the vial, so we are scheduling appointments for groups of five travelers to make the best use of the vaccine. In some circumstances, it may be possible to receive yellow fever vaccine at your initial travel consultation visit, but most likely you will need to schedule a second visit in order to receive this vaccine.
Rabies vaccine: Rabies vaccine is supplied by two manufacturers, both of which have had distribution problems during this year. Now all U.S. rabies vaccine doses have been restricted nationally to assure sufficient doses for individuals needing post-exposure treatment, since rabies disease is fatal without this treatment. At this time, our clinics do not have vaccine available for pre-exposure rabies vaccination, regardless of the traveler's risk.
Japanese encephalitis: The single manufacturer of Japanese encephalitis vaccine stopped production of this vaccine in 2007. Existing supplies will be used up by mid-2008, but some additional doses may be available for purchase from a national stockpile. A new vaccine licensed for adults 18 years and older should be available in late 2008 or early 2009. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is given in a three-dose series and Public Health has only a small monthly allocation at this time.

Where to get your travel assessment and immunizations

Public Health - Seattle & King County offers timely information about health-related risks while traveling abroad.

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
2124 4th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121 [ MAP ]

The Downtown (Seattle) Public Health travel clinic offer full Travelers' Health Care Clinics including Travel Assessment, travel immunizations, and prescription medications for malaria prevention, altitude sickness and treatment of travelers' diarrhea and other travel-related conditions.

Travel Immunizations by appointment: Monday through Friday.
Initial travel visits with a nurse are available by appointment by calling 206-296-4960.
Travel prescriptions are available by appointment Monday through Wednesday.
Download the Travel Clinic Brochure (PDF)

Travel assessment

Travel is a lot of fun and a great way to increase your appreciation of our world, but there can be risks associated with traveling and living in all areas of the world.

When you're traveling abroad, a travel assessment will help you prepare for any health risks of your trip. During the travel assessment, the travel clinic nurse provides information and emphasizes the best ways to prevent travel-related illnesses.

A traveler's regular health care provider should evaluate pre-existing medical conditions.

Please note: A travel assessment is required in order to receive travel immunizations at a Public Health - Seattle & King County clinic. Be prepared to provide answers for the following questions for the assessment:

Review your itinerary

What countries will you visit, and in what order?
Some countries require proof of vaccination when you enter from certain countries because of diseases that may be occurring in those areas.
How long will you stay in each country?
With longer trips, you have more potential exposure to insects, food- and water-borne illness and other infectious diseases.
When does your trip begin?
If you're leaving in less than two weeks, you may not have time to get all the recommended doses of vaccine, or you may not have developed full protection yet.

Risk factors for health problems on your trip

What type of accommodations will you stay in?
Where will you eat your meals and get water to drink?
What types of activities will you participate in on your trip?
Do they involve high altitude, swimming in areas with water-borne bacteria or parasites, possible exposure to bites of domestic or wild animals, etc.?
Are insects a problem where you're going?
Diseases spread by mosquitoes occur all over the world, even in areas of the world we usually think of as safe (Mexico and Hawaii).

Review of your medical history

Allergies
Medications
Chronic illnesses or medical conditions
Pregnancy

Medical and emergency care while traveling

Where would you get health care in an emergency during your trip?
What first aid supplies should you bring with you?
Do you have prescription medications or eyeglasses?

Vaccine requirements and recommendations

Which vaccines are required or recommended? What vaccines have you already had?
How to schedule needed doses-some vaccines may be given together, some must be separated in time from other vaccines, some require more than one dose and have specific minimum time intervals.
Some vaccines or medications (for example, anti-malarial medication and oral typhoid vaccine) require a prescription.

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