The growing role for pharmacists in pre-travel health consultation
Americans are traveling internationally in larger numbers with a significant increase in visits to Brazil, Argentina, Central America, Asia and the Caribbean. These destinations share a common feature: a large and growing mosquito population. Where mosquitoes thrive, the mosquito-borne diseases follow.
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This creates a pressing need for pre-travel health services and an important role for pharmacists. Many people neglect to seek pre-travel health consultations. Travel vaccines are often overlooked by travelers, perhaps due to the lack of awareness and education of certain diseases. Inadequate preparation can lead to illnesses like diarrhea and skin irritations, or more severe acute and chronic infections. Pharmacists are visible, accessible and ideally positioned to help address these issues, alongside doctors and travel specialists.
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For example, our pharmacy has launched a pre-travel health consultation service. We offer customers a comprehensive and personalized consultation that considers CDC vaccination and medication recommendations, as well as their immunization history, current medications, potential drug interactions and allergies.
Recently, we’ve seen an increase in customer travel to destinations with rising cases of mosquito-borne diseases, including previously unaffected areas such as France, Germany, Greece and Spain. This increase is attributed to the explosion of mosquitoes resulting from climate change. In response, we’ve provided education, support and vaccination for mosquito-borne diseases including yellow fever, Chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis.
The role of the pharmacist has evolved. Our training, skills and role as health educators enable us to provide more services than ever before. Data supports pharmacists expanding into travel health; studies demonstrate positive outcomes and patient satisfaction from pharmacist-run travel health clinics. I can attest that the response to our travel health services has been very positive. Many of our referrals come from local primary care physicians who aren’t familiar with country specific health recommendations or requirements.
As travel increases and climate change fuels mosquito proliferation, pharmacists have a critical role in preparing travelers and protecting public health. In collaboration with doctors, specialty clinics and others, pharmacists can increase awareness, reduce vaccine-preventable and travel-related illnesses. This approach is a win-win for all.
Ashley Flagg, Pharm.D., is a pharmacist at Buford Road Pharmacy in Richmond, Va.
