Vaccinations & Travel Health

COVID-19 Vaccination - Not required but highly recommended for travel 

Students are not required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 UNLESS the destination country requires the vaccine for entry. 

Travel Vaccinations & Health 

Next Steps

Keep in mind that it's important to be current on all routine immunizations, including COVID-19. Visit your local travel clinic or doctor's office to help you navigate travel health decisions. Many Primary Care doctor's offices don't have travel-related immunizations readily available, so be sure to check and visit a travel clinic, if necessary.  If you have any questions about vaccinations or related issues, please direct them to medical professionals. If you will be traveling to multiple countries during the same trip, you may need additional vaccinations. As a reminder, you'll also need your Primary Care Physician to sign the Physician Release Form.

Familiarize yourself with Country-Specific CDC recommendations and ask your doctor any questions:  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

At your appointment, the travel clinic will ask which country, region, and what types of activities you'll be doing to give specific health recommendations. Click here for the specific regions your program will visit and bring this info to your doctor's appointment. 

Please Note: Vaccination requirements are based on many factors, such as your home country and where you are traveling before and after the program. Please check with a travel clinic if you have questions about what is required based on your situation. 

Yellow Fever

Ghana

A yellow fever vaccination and certificate are required for entry into Ghana and other locations if traveling from a country with risk of Yellow Fever virus transmission. For Ghana, you cannot apply for your tourist visa until you have the yellow fever certificate and you will be required to show proof when entering Ghana, so be sure to bring the original certificate of your vaccination to present upon entry and keep it in with your passport. You can find a clinic for your Yellow Fever Vaccination here.

Tanzania

A yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended, however, if you are coming from, including a layover at an airport for 12+ hours in a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission, proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required to enter Tanzania. This includes common layovers of Kenya and Ethiopia. 

Malaria Prophylaxis Medication

Ghana & Tanzania 

The CDC highly recommends that all travelers take malaria prophylaxis medication when traveling to Ghana & Tanzania and some other locations. Our programs do run in areas with known transmission in Ghana & Tanzania. See more detailed information regarding malaria here. All students going to Ghana & Tanzania should bring malaria prophylaxis medication and stow it in their carry-on luggage as these medications are not always readily available abroad. Students are responsible for taking any medication(s) as prescribed during the program. There are several options for malaria prophylaxis medication, however, please consider the side effects & drug resistance by location. GLA students have had bad reactions to Mefloquine (Lariam), so we recommend avoiding it. Please consult your local travel clinic and travel doctor for a recommendation on which option is best for you.

Costa Rica

There is currently an outbreak of malaria in Costa Rica in the province of Limón, Costa Rica. There is also malaria transmission in Alajuela Province. The only program that travels to the Limón province is Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Initiative. There are currently no known cases of malaria in the town that we stay in. There will also be mosquito nets on the beds and screens on the windows, but you should speak to your healthcare professional about how to prevent mosquito bites and which malaria prophylaxis drug is best for you. CDC recommends you should start taking malaria prophylaxis drugs before travel. There are several options for malaria prophylaxis medication, however, please consider the side effects & drug resistance by location. GLA students have had bad reactions to Mefloquine (Lariam), so we recommend avoiding it. Please consult your local travel clinic and travel doctor for a recommendation on which option is best for you.

Returning Home

Pay attention to your body! If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, intestinal issues, or just not feeling quite yourself upon your return, it's a good idea to visit your doctor. While we make every effort to ensure a healthy experience abroad, traveling to new places comes with the inherent risk of exposure to bacteria or viruses. Sometimes symptoms do not appear until days or weeks after returning home. While the most common ailments are mild and take care of themselves within a few days, it is better to be safe than sorry!