Pre-travel health consultation

MinuteClinic providers are trained to evaluate risk levels for travel-related illnesses. They can discuss your medical history and assess the risks based on factors that include your destination, seasonality and trip duration.

Your MinuteClinic provider can prepare a personalized prevention plan to protect you and your family. They can help you to be ready with effective remedies and share tips to avoid infection. Along with the vaccines and prescriptions you may need, they can offer you information and advice to help you stay healthy while traveling.

1. You may have to answer a few questions to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment.

   If you made your appointment online
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for the visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you will be provided with a visit summary, a receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

MinuteClinic® can provide these travel-related health care services to help you prepare for your trip, including:

• Rapid PCR or antigen COVID-19 testing for travel
• 'Fit to fly' or travel clearance letter if you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days
• Immunizations
• Over-the-counter remedies for minor ailments you may encounter
• Prescription medications as appropriate for prevalent diseases
• Malaria Prevention
• Motion Sickness Prevention
• Travelers' Diarrhea Prevention & Care
• Typhoid Vaccine
• Zika Assessment

Vaccines for the following are not available at this time:

• Cholera
• Japanese encephalitis
• Yellow fever

Be sure to bring your travel itinerary with you.

• Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your insulin-dosing schedule, especially when crossing time zones. Regular blood sugar (glucose) monitoring is essential. Be sure to carry insulin in the carry-on baggage rather than in the checked luggage when flying. Otherwise, it can freeze in the plane's cargo hold. Wear a medical identification bracelet to indicate that you have diabetes. Carry a source of sugar in case your blood glucose level drops. Exercise can cause blood sugar to dip, so always carry food supplies. Keep up with hydration, which can help avoid complications when blood sugar surges.
• Heart conditions: People with heart disease should carry a recent electrocardiogram and a complete list of medications. Put prescriptions in carry-on luggage. Consult with your primary health care provider before traveling.
• Immunocompromised patients: People with suppressed immune systems due to cancer, chemotherapy or AIDS may encounter distinct challenges when considering travel to areas with higher disease risks. In general, people with impaired immune systems should avoid the use of vaccines made from live organisms. Non-live travel vaccines may not be as effective, but they are still beneficial options. Consider delaying travel until your immune system is back to normal if possible. Consult with a specialist before departure.

Blood clots might be a risk to some patients, particularly during flights with long periods of immobility. Discuss the risks with your primary health care provider and consider wearing compression socks or support stockings while in transit.

If you need COVID-19 testing or help understanding COVID-19 requirements prior to an upcoming trip, a MinuteClinic provider can help.

If you need COVID-19 testing for travel, you should schedule your MinuteClinic pre-travel consultation to align with receiving test results in the necessary timeframe. COVID-19 testing is usually required one to three days before arrival and varies based on destination. Compare your travel itinerary to current CDC recommendations to understand the type and timing of the test required for your destination. If you need help, MinuteClinic providers can assist with research for current CDC recommendations.

For patients who have recently tested positive for COVID-19, some destinations may accept proof of your positive test within the last 90 days with a signed document of recovery from a health care provider as an alternate to testing. If you were not tested at CVS® or MinuteClinic, please bring a copy of your positive test for the provider to review during your visit. If all criteria are met, a “fit to fly” or travel clearance letter can be provided at the time of your visit in accordance with CDC guidelines. Patients should be aware of the requirements of their destination for travel entry.

COVID-19 testing is offered at an additional cost to the pre-travel consultation.

For more information on the COVID-19 tests that we offer for pre-travel requirements, you can review the manufacturer's patient fact sheets:

• Mesa Biotech Inc. patient fact sheet 
• LumiraDx UK Ltd patient fact sheet