Before going abroad, you should become familiar with what steps to take to prevent a medical emergency while traveling.

Many of the Goucher-sponsored programs will give you the opportunity to travel through places where you may need recommended or required immunizations and preventative medications.  While Goucher College and the Office of Global Education do not require these immunizations or medications, some countries may require certain immunizations for entry (like Typhoid and Yellow Fever).   

We encourage you to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for any destination-specific information.  The World Health Organization (WHO) may also be a useful resource.

Plan ahead.  At this time, if you need vaccinations for your study abroad program, the Goucher College Health Center is not able to provide travel immunizations.  Ideally, you should schedule your vaccinations with an outside provider 4 to 6 weeks before your study abroad program.

Most vaccines take time to become effective in your body and some vaccines must be given in a series over a period of days or sometimes weeks.

If it is less than 4 weeks before you travel, you should still make an appointment with your doctor or a travel clinic. You might still benefit from shots or medications and other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

To locate a travel clinic in Maryland, please take a look at Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.