Research Travel Vaccinations and Visas Before You Go!
Depending on where you are headed, there are certain things you may need to obtain before you get on the plane. These include vaccinations and visas. But how do you know if you need those where you are going?
That is where these very resourceful websites come in. The two websites listed below are the travel bibles of answering every question having to do with visas, passports, vaccinations, etc. I highly recommend you check them out every time you plan to travel!
Travel.State.Gov
For US and foreign citizens, this website is organized by the US Department of State. On it you will find everything you need to know about:
- International Travel: Warnings, alerts, information for students or women, safety tips, what to do in case of an emergency, Country-Specific Information, and a plethora of other helpful resources.
- Passports: How to apply for the first time, how to renew, forms to download, what to do if you lose yours, application status, requirements, costs, and much more.
- Visas: Work visas, study visas, tourist visas, information for Americans traveling abroad, country-specific requirements, fees, consulates, and much more.
- Global News, Laws & Policies: Read about current affairs and civil states at your destination, what to do if something goes wrong, how to register with the Department of State (enroll in STEP), legal issues abroad and more.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Your one-stop-shop for worldwide health and safety topics. This is where you will go to find out what vaccinations your destination country requires (if any) and which vaccinations it recommends. This is a very important step in planning your trip, especially if you are headed to the Third World.
There are airlines that won’t let you on the plane without specific vaccinations. It is very important that you a) get the vaccinations, and b) DON’T LOSE YOUR VACCINATION CARD. All I will say is that it can cause some very big problems, and unfortunately, I know this from experience.
There is a drop-down list of countries for you to select your destination country and read about all of its medical issues. There are also resources to help you find a clinic near you for the proper administration of vaccinations.
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