Pediatric Travel Medicine
Preventative care for your child's health abroad
Traveling to a foreign country is exciting, whether it's for a family vacation, a school trip, a church mission or something else. But before you pack your child’s bags, there’s an important question to consider: Is your child prepared for the health risks that come with international travel?
Pre-travel consultations, including preventative care such as immunizations and medications, can protect your child against travel-related illnesses and ensure a health journey no matter where they go.
What is Pediatric Travel Medicine and Why Does Your Child Need It?
Pediatric travel medicine is a specialized field focused on ensuring children are medically prepared for travel outside the U.S. It involves assessing the potential health risks based on the destination and providing the necessary vaccinations and health guidance. Your child may need specific immunizations that aren’t typically given at their regular pediatrician's office. These vaccines can protect against serious diseases like yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and typhoid — diseases that may be prevalent in certain parts of the world.
Whether you’re traveling to a remote destination or even popular spots with health concerns, our pediatric travel medicine program offers comprehensive pre-travel consultations to prepare your child for a safe and healthy trip.
When Should You Seek Pediatric Travel Medicine?
Ideally, you should schedule a consultation four to six weeks before your trip to ensure there’s enough time for any necessary vaccinations to take effect. The sooner, the better, especially if your child is traveling to a destination with unique health risks.
Who Can Access the Program?
This service is available to all children planning international travel, including:
- Families traveling for vacations or to visit extended family abroad
- Schools organizing educational trips to places like Africa, South America or Asia
- Church groups heading to areas with specific health concerns
If your family is traveling to visit relatives in tropical or subtropical regions, it’s especially important to seek pre-travel health services. Travelers visiting friends and relatives abroad may face unique health risks, but pre-travel immunizations and medications can help prevent travel-related illness and ensure a safe journey.
What to Expect at a Pediatric Travel Medicine Clinic
At Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, our pediatric travel medicine program is one of the few in New Jersey that provides specialized vaccinations and health evaluations tailored to your child’s travel plans. Our experienced team goes beyond basic recommendations, assessing your child’s specific health needs and providing comprehensive education based on the destination to ensure they receive the proper vaccinations before traveling.
This includes:
- Personalized consultations: We take the time to understand your child’s travel plans and health needs, from school trips to vacations in areas with health risks.
- Comprehensive vaccine options: We provide vaccines unavailable through your child’s regular pediatrician, such as yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
- Same-day vaccines: When available, we administer vaccines right away during your visit. If needed, we’ll order the vaccines and schedule a follow-up appointment.
The following vaccines are available at the pediatric travel medicine clinic:
- Yellow fever vaccine: Required for travel to certain parts of Africa and South America, this vaccine helps prevent the spread of the yellow fever virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.
- Japanese encephalitis vaccine: Recommended for travel to parts of Asia and the Pacific, this vaccine protects against a virus spread by mosquitoes that can lead to brain inflammation.
- Typhoid vaccine: Essential for travel to areas in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, this vaccine helps protect against the bacteria that cause typhoid fever.
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines: Both vaccines protect against liver infections caused by the respective viruses, common in many parts of the world, especially where sanitation is poor.
- Meningococcal vaccine: This vaccine is often required for travel to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where the risk of meningococcal disease is higher.
- Rabies vaccine: Recommended for travel to areas where rabies is common, especially if your child will be involved in outdoor activities that could bring them into contact with animals.
- Polio vaccine: Although polio has been largely eradicated, some countries still have outbreaks, and certain travelers may need an additional dose of the vaccine.
- Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine: Recommended for travel to parts of Europe and Asia, this vaccine protects against a virus transmitted by ticks that can cause serious brain and nervous system inflammation.
If your child is traveling to a region where malaria is common, we offer comprehensive prevention guidance to keep them safe. This includes:
- Developing a personalized plan for age-appropriate mosquito avoidance measures, including using repellents, bed nets and insecticide treatments for clothing and nets.
- Discussing and prescribing malaria chemoprophylaxis tailored to the destination and your child’s health needs.
This approach ensures your young traveler is fully prepared for a safe and healthy journey.
Why Choose Our Pediatric Travel Medicine Clinic?
Your child deserves access to the leading pediatric travel medicine providers in the tri-state area. Choosing Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health means you get:
Expert Pediatric Care
Our pediatric specialists understand the most recent medical requirements of travel and have in-depth knowledge of pediatric health. They continuously stay up-to-date on the latest recommendations and requirements. This ensures a safe and comprehensive experience for your child, tailored to their unique needs.
Access to Specialized Travel Vaccines
We offer vaccines that can’t be administered through a regular pediatrician’s office, including those for yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis, ensuring your child is fully protected against diseases specific to their travel destination.
Convenient, Comprehensive Support
Our program provides a one-stop solution for travel health needs, offering thorough consultations, immediate vaccinations (when available) and in-depth guidance on what to do before, during and after travel. We’re one of the few providers in New Jersey offering this level of care. We also provide itemized bills that families can submit to their insurance for potential reimbursement.
Contact Us
Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital
WFAN-Don Imus Pediatric Center for Tomorrow's Children
30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday: 1 – 4 pm
Wednesday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.