New Zealand Pre-Departure Health

In your passport, write the names of people to be contacted in case of a medical emergency, and list allergies or medical conditions. Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always safe or possible, so if you take prescription drugs, consider carrying up-to-date, legible prescriptions or a statement from your doctor stating the medication’s trade name, manufacturer, chemical name, and dosage. While traveling, be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage. For tips on packing a basic first-aid kit and other health essentials,

Travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for haemophilus influenza B); HepB (for Hepatitis B). For recommendations, consult the CDC (see below) in the US or the equivalent in your home country, and check with a doctor for guidance.

Useful Organizations And Publications

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; ☎877-394-8747; www.cdc.gov/travel) maintains an travelers’ hotline and a website. The CDC’s comprehensive booklet Health Information for International Travel (The Yellow Book), a biannual rundown of disease, immunization, and general health advice, is free online or US$29-40 via the Public Health Foundation (☎877-252-1200; www.phfg.org). Consult the government agency in your home country for consular information sheets on health, entry requirements, and other issues for various countries (see the listings in the box on Travel Advisories). For quick information on health and other travel warnings, call the Overseas Citizens Services (☎888-407-4747 M-F 8am-8pm, after hours 202-647-4000, from overseas 317-472-2328), or contact a passport agency, embassy, or consulate abroad. For information on medical evacuation services and travel insurance firms, see the US government website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_health.html or the website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk). For general health info, contact the American Red Cross (☎800-564-1234; www.redcross.org).