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Leslie Bridgen innoculates a traveler. (Photo by Denise Applewhite) |
Planning a trip this summer? First stop, travel agent. Second stop -- if your trip takes you to any of the more exotic corners of the world -- might be the Office of Occupational Medicine in McCosh Health Center.
There, Leslie Bridgen, administrative director and a certified occupational health nurse-specialist, will see that faculty, staff and dependents over the age of 12 receive the immunizations needed to stay healthy while abroad and after their return.
First, says Bridgen, "We ask patients to fill out a travel immunization worksheet that tells us about their general health and regular medications. We also find out about their travel itinerary, the purpose of their travel (trekking, study, field work, work with animals, medical work), and whether they expect to be in rural or urban areas."
Then, she says, "We make a plan for each patient." This plan includes detailed information on necessary immunizations, and eight to 10 pages of health-related recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control, as well as general information "about food, about water, about living conditions.
"First-time travelers are often anxious," Bridgen says, especially considering that "no one likes needles." Still, "There are a great many very savvy travelers at Princeton," she says. Typically, "A professor calls, and says, 'I'm going to Russia. Just tell me what I need.'" After checking the patient's record, Bridgen might just say, "Everything's up to date. Go, and have a wonderful time!"
The immunization clinic sees about 100 patients a year, but that represents many more than 100 visits to McCosh, because many injections must be given in series or cannot be given with others. "It might take four visits to get one traveler to Africa," Bridgen points out.
Common immunizations are hepatitis A vaccine (for travel in areas where contact with contaminated food and water is likely), meningitis vaccine (Sub-Saharan Africa) and typhoid vaccine (Indian subcontinent and countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America), among others. Less common are Japanese encephalitis, rabies and yellow fever. All this in addition to updates of immunizations such as tetanus-diphtheria, polio and measles.
Administering travel immunizations is a tiny part of Bridgen's job in Occupational Medicine. "Most of our work," she says, "is reactive. We deal with work-related injuries, return-to-work evaluation after disability and various health monitoring programs. Only a small part of our time is devoted to preventive and wellness programs."
That's why she enjoys (if that's the right word) giving travel injec tions and counseling. "We provide this service to make sure people leave Princeton healthy, stay healthy while abroad, and come back to Princeton healthy."
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