At the time of acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. This form will be forwarded to the MSU Travel Clinic staff who may contact you if they have concerns regarding your health abroad. They will not contact you regarding any required immunizations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program's itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety (transportation safety, cultural dating customs, laws about alcohol use, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding medical problems, immunization requirements, or other health issues that may affect your successful and complete participation in the program, you are expected to consult with either your personal physician, a local travel clinic such as the MSU Travel Clinic (http://travelclinic.msu.edu or 517-353-3161), or the Ingham County Health Department (Immunization line at 887-4300). Even if the countries you plan to visit have no required immunizations to enter, you should visit a health practitioner and then make your decision regarding your medical preparation. Do this at least three months prior to departure to nations in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, and at least two months prior to departure for all other countries.
The MSU Travel Clinic provides extensive individualized free consultation to eligible MSU students. The clinic provides the following services:
Some immunizations require a series or spacing for protection (as long as three months for a series of shots) so allow as much time as possible for immunization. You can check the status of your routine immunizations at http://olin.msu.edu/infopage.php?id=84 (here and while abroad).
Worldwide health information and country health requirements are also available through Web sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/), the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (http://healthlink.mcw.edu/travel-links.html).
Students traveling to countries with low health risks (i.e. Western Europe and Australia) will need to make sure routine vaccinations are up-to-date before leaving the United States. Additional vaccines are generally not required for these countries with low health risks. Visit http://travelclinic.msu.edu to learn of any recent outbreaks that may require additional vaccines.
NOTE: Be sure to check with your insurance company, as some immunizations are not normally covered.
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