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Frequently Asked Questions

What vaccines are required to enter certain countries?

How can I find out which countries require the yellow fever vaccine as a condition for entry?

Is the cholera vaccine required for entry into any country?

Where can I learn about the various risks encountered during travel?

How can I find out which vaccines are required or recommended for my travel itinerary?

How can I find out if I need to take malaria prophylaxis during my travel?

Is there a vaccine against malaria?

Where can I learn about various drugs used to prevent malaria?

Do you dispense malaria pills?

What is the cost of the various malaria pills?

How long am I protected after receiving vaccines?

Does my insurance cover the consultation or the vaccines?

Do you administer vaccines to children?

Do I need a prescription to receive vaccines?

Can I get all my vaccines at once?

 

What vaccines are required to enter certain countries?
The only vaccine currently required to enter certain countries is the yellow fever vaccine. Other vaccines are only recommended.

 

How can I find out which countries require the yellow fever vaccine as a condition for entry?
The list of requirements by country is available on the CDC website.

 

Is the cholera vaccine required for entry into any country?
Currently, no country or territory requires vaccination against cholera as a condition for entry. The cholera vaccine is not available in the United States.

 

Where can I learn about the various risks encountered during travel?
The Yellow Book, issued by the CDC, is a rich resource and can be accessed here.

 

How can I find out which vaccines are required or recommended for my travel itinerary?
The CDC website is the best resource. However, final decisions regarding various vaccines can be difficult to make without consulting a travel medicine specialist.

 

How can I find out if I need to take malaria prophylaxis during my travel?
The CDC website offers detailed recommendations. In addition, maps can be found here.

 

Is there a vaccine against malaria?
Currently, there is no vaccine against malaria available.

 

Where can I learn about various drugs used to prevent malaria?
The CDC website has a wealth of information about the topic.

 

Do you dispense malaria pills?
No. We only presrcribe the pills and you can obtain them at any pharmacy.

 

What is the cost of the various malaria pills?
Click here for a chart that provides an approximate cost of malaria pills when purchased at the pharmacy.

 

How long am I protected after receiving vaccines?
Click here to view the duration of protection conferred by each vaccine.

 

Does my insurance cover the consultation or the vaccines?
We do not participate with any private insurance plan. Please click here to review our payment policies.

 

Do you administer vaccines to children?
Yes we do.

 

Do I need a prescription to receive vaccines?
No. We do not require a prescription for any vaccine we administer.

 

Can I get all my vaccines at once?
Yes. Usually we can administer all needed vaccines in one visit except for certain vaccines that require multiple dosing (e.g. hepatitis B, rabies, etc.). In those instances, you will need to return for the remaining doses.

What makes our services exceptional

At the Washington Travel Clinic, we do our best to accommodate your schedule. Our clients find that our online appointment scheduling service is extremely convenient; it allows for secure registration and for making, rescheduling and canceling appointments with a few clicks, 24/7. Appointment confirmations and reminders are automatically sent to you via e-mail.

Our DC office is conveniently located and is accessible by metro. The Chevy Chase location is accessible from the red line and the Tysons Corner location is close to the orange line.

At the Washington Travel Clinic you are seen by a physician specializing in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine. Dr. Akl answers the phone personally and will discuss your concerns, if any, prior to your visit. During your visit, Dr. Akl will review your medical history and itinerary – this allows him to determine which vaccines you should receive and what other preventive measures you should take.

Dr. Akl personally administers the necessary vaccines during the same visit. His use of very thin needles makes your experience almost painless. Administered vaccines are recorded on an International Certificate of Vaccination.

Information on travel precautions is discussed and sent to you via e-mail at the time of your visit. Prescriptions are provided as needed and for your convenience can be sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice -- this way your medicines will be ready for you to pick-up when you get to the pharmacy. Blood tests, when needed, are drawn in the DC office or in the same building at the Chevy Chase location.

Follow-up appointments and payments are conveniently made in the same exam room, which is why our clients call us a one-stop shop. Testimonials describe the experience as “painless,” “easy,” “efficient,” “fast” and “convenient.” Upon request, your physician is sent a letter documenting the vaccines you received. A copy of your medical records is a mouse-click away and is sent to you via e-mail upon request.

In case of an emergency, you can reach Dr. Akl personally 24/7 by phone. If a consultation is needed after your trip because of illness, Dr. Akl is available to see you and your initial visit is free if you had a full consultation before your travel.

Our regular visit fee is $50 per person, which includes a full travel consultation. Families are charged a flat $100 fee. The regular visit fee is valid for one year during which follow-up visits and requests for prescription refills are free of charge. If only one vaccine is needed and no consultation is requested, the visit fee is $25. For non-travelers requesting vaccines (e.g. for immigration, work, school, etc.) the visit fee is $25.

The cost of the various vaccines offered is listed here. We do not charge a visit fee for the flu, shingles and HPV vaccines. Charges for physicals depend on the complexity of the exam. Please click here for additional pricing information.