Safety first for international travelers
Nurse Ray Levesque (right) and a would-be traveler go over immunization information at the Tri-County Health Department office in Lone Tree.
Article by Tracy Dudley with photo by Tim Gamble
Traveling outside of the United States presents increased risk for infectious diseases, no matter how carefully you plan your accommodations. Fortunately, there is an international travel clinic near the Castle Pines community that regularly provides immunizations and advice concerning travel to foreign countries.
While the Tri-County Health Department hosts three travel clinic sites, only the Lone Tree clinic operates full time, according to Registered Nurse Ray Levesque.
“Tri-County did nearly 5,000 travel immunizations in 2008, and 80 to 85 percent of them were through the Lone Tree clinic,” said Levesque. “We work with individuals, travel groups, and companies preparing employees for foreign assignments.”
In conjunction with passport requirements, private doctors or other agencies recommend or require visiting a travel clinic prior to leaving the United States. Each country is fairly unique in potential health risks, pertinent standards and conditions.
The nurses at the clinics spend a good amount of time reviewing a country’s immunization requirements and other recommended precautions.
When each patient is finished, they receive a yellow book, “International Certificate of Vaccinations” that fits nicely inside his or her passport. They are also given a “Vaccination Information Sheet” that explains the potential side effects of immunizations.
“Most of what I do is education. I spend 30 to 40 minutes with each patient providing all the information they need about a given country,” said Levesque, “and in turn, I hear a lot of interesting stories that bring human drama to life for me. I have had a lot of patients lately who are headed to volunteer in Haiti—doctors, grief counselors, construction workers, and more.”
For more information about Tri-County Health Department’s international travel clinic, go to the website at www.tchd.org/travel.html or call 303-451-0123. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
