Schedule travel consultations 4-6 weeks before international departure whenever possible. This timeline allows adequate time for completing multi-dose vaccine series, obtaining specialized vaccines that may require referrals to travel clinics, ordering necessary medications, and thorough travel preparation without rushed last-minute planning. Some vaccines require multiple doses given weeks apart for full protection, making early consultation essential. If your Beverly Hills family is planning international travel, contact my office as soon as trips are confirmed rather than waiting until shortly before departure. While last-minute consultations are better than none, earlier planning ensures optimal protection and reduces travel health stress.

Required and recommended vaccines depend entirely on destinations, trip activities, duration, season, and your child’s current vaccination status. Common travel vaccines include hepatitis A for most international destinations with contaminated food/water risks, typhoid fever for South Asia and developing countries, yellow fever required for entry to certain African and South American countries, Japanese encephalitis for extended rural Asia travel, rabies for adventure travel with animal exposure risk, and meningococcal meningitis for sub-Saharan Africa travel or religious pilgrimages. I also ensure routine vaccines like measles-mumps-rubella are current, as these diseases remain common abroad. During consultations, I assess your specific itinerary and provide personalized vaccination recommendations.

Yes, with proper preparation, even infants and young children can travel internationally safely. However, age affects vaccination options and travel risk considerations. Some travel vaccines aren’t approved for infants or young children, requiring extra precautions in high-risk destinations. Infants are more vulnerable to dehydration from traveler’s diarrhea, food safety is more critical, and certain destinations may pose unreasonable health risks for very young children. I help Beverly Hills families evaluate whether planned trips are appropriate for your children’s ages and health status, recommend timing travel when kids are older for high-risk destinations when feasible, and maximize available protections for families committed to traveling with young children.

Malaria prevention depends on your destination’s malaria risk, season of travel, areas visited within countries, and accommodation types. Many popular tourist destinations have minimal or no malaria risk, while others require prophylactic medication. I assess your specific itinerary using current CDC malaria maps and risk data, recommending appropriate prevention strategies including medications when necessary. Malaria medications for children include options with different dosing schedules, side effect profiles, and age restrictions. I discuss each option’s benefits and drawbacks, prescribe appropriate medications with detailed instructions starting before departure and continuing after return, and emphasize insect bite prevention which is essential regardless of medication use.

If your child becomes ill during international travel, assess severity first – life-threatening emergencies require immediate local emergency care regardless of quality concerns. For less urgent illnesses, VIP Concierge members can contact me directly via phone or text for guidance regardless of time zones or location. I can help determine whether symptoms require immediate medical attention, advise on safe use of travel kit medications, and guide you toward reputable medical facilities when necessary. I recommend purchasing travel health insurance covering international medical care, medical evacuation, and trip interruption before departure. Carrying copies of vaccination records, medication lists, and medical summaries helps foreign providers care for your child appropriately.

Insurance coverage for travel vaccines varies significantly by plan and specific vaccines. Some travel vaccines like hepatitis A are considered routine childhood immunizations and are typically covered as preventive care. Other travel-specific vaccines like yellow fever, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies are often not covered by insurance and require out-of-pocket payment. My Beverly Hills office can verify coverage for specific vaccines with your insurance, though many families find paying for travel vaccines directly is worthwhile investment in protecting children’s health during international trips. Travel consultation fees are usually billed as regular office visits covered according to your plan benefits.

Yes, I commonly prescribe antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea that families carry in travel medical kits for use if severe symptoms develop during trips. I provide detailed instructions on when to start antibiotics – typically for diarrhea with high fever, bloody stools, or severe symptoms interfering with activities – versus managing mild symptoms with hydration and anti-diarrheal medications. Having antibiotics available prevents minor illnesses from derailing travel plans when accessing medical care is difficult or facilities are questionable. I also prescribe other travel-specific medications including anti-nausea drugs, anti-malarial medications, and altitude sickness prevention based on your destination and planned activities during comprehensive travel consultations.

Bring adequate supplies of all regular medications plus extras for potential travel delays or lost luggage. Carry medications in original labeled bottles in carry-on luggage, never checked bags, to ensure access if luggage is delayed. Bring copies of prescriptions and a letter from me documenting medical conditions and medication needs for customs officials or foreign pharmacies if refills become necessary. Research medication names in destination countries as brand names vary internationally – generic names are universally recognized. For refrigerated medications like insulin, research storage options at destinations and during transport. Beverly Hills families should discuss specific medication management with me during pre-travel consultations to address individual circumstances appropriately.

Food and water safety prevents traveler’s diarrhea, the most common travel illness. Follow these rules strictly in high-risk destinations: drink only bottled water with sealed caps or water purified by boiling, filtration, or purification tablets; avoid ice cubes made from tap water; eat only thoroughly cooked hot foods; avoid raw vegetables and salads; eat fruits only if you peel them yourself; avoid street food in developing countries; use bottled water even for brushing teeth; avoid swallowing water during showers or swimming. Breastfeeding protects infants from contaminated food and water. Hand hygiene before eating is crucial. Despite precautions, some children still develop traveler’s diarrhea – oral rehydration and appropriate medications manage symptoms effectively when prevention fails.