Health Information

Immunizations and Vaccinations

On the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Traveler's Health site and read over all the information for your destination country, so that you know what vaccinations and immunizations you require.

If your destination requires any particular vaccinations or immunizations, go to the Gordon Health Center and request a print-out of your current vaccinations to take to your travel clinic appointment. Identify yourself as a Gordon student when making the appointment. Below are travel clinics in the North Shore area:

Passport Health, Woburn Office
600 West Cummings Park
Suite 1625
Woburn MA 01801
617-307-7599

Burlington Lahey Clinic: Travel and Tropical Medicine Clinic
Appointments are available weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.
41 Mall Road
Burlington, MA 01805
781-744-8860

Prescription Medications

PLAN AHEAD! If you take any prescriptions medications, plan now with your physician how you will obtain those medications while abroad. Since it is difficult to get prescriptions filled abroad and since many customs agencies confiscate medications in the mail, ask your physician to prescribe a supply of medication for the entirety of your time abroad. Take a letter from your physician with you that describes your medication (with its generic name), dosage and condition being treated. Be prepared to show this letter in customs or in the case of an emergency. Keep prescriptions in their original bottles. For more information go to the U.S. State Department's page on Prescriptions.

If you have a chronic condition (like allergies, asthma, diabetes, etc.), learn how to describe your condition in the language of your destination country. Have a written explanation in that language in your wallet in case of an emergency.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Even though  versions of common over-the-counter medications may be available in different countries, you may want to travel with common versions that you know to mitigate confusion over dosage and contents. Consider the following as they apply to you/your destination:

• Common painkillers: aspirin, acetaminophen, n-saids (such as ibuprofen)
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Motion or travel sickness medication
• Antihistamine/Allergy medication* (even if you don't normally suffer from allergies, in case you react to something adversely in the new environment)
• Cold/flu medication
• Extra set of glasses/contact lenses
• Insect repellant
• Sunscreen

Mental and Emotional Health

Studying or interning abroad is not only a wonderful and rich experience, but also a stressful one. It is normal and natural to feel some discomfort when pushed out of your comfort zone. The important thing is to be self-aware of how you're reacting to that stress. As you plan and prepare, think about the things you do to deal with stress here (exercise, hobbies, etc.) and how you can do or adapt that while abroad.

Remember that whatever you deal with in your home environment—in terms of emotional or psychological or chronic health conditions—you take with you abroad. Be proactive and schedule an appointment before you leave with Gordon's Counseling Services to discuss how to be well and healthy while abroad. Lower emotional health is linked to poorer judgment and risky behavior. If you know or think you’re at risk—talk to your physician/counselor before you go.

If you have no history of anything like this, but something develops for you on the field, seek help. Don’t ignore it and always feel free to contact the GEO's emergency number at (978)-357-8511. Your program may also have additional mental health resources available to you while you're abroad.