What immunizations are required?
No immunizations are required for entry to Costa Rica. However, accepted volunteers should consult their doctors or visit a travel clinic in order to learn more about the vaccinations that are recommended for travel to Latin America.The best source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. This site provides recommendations for travel to Central America as well as detailed information on specific diseases. You can also refer to the Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America book that WorldTeach will send you when you confirm your participation in the program. However, accepted volunteers must consult their doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs. Please understand that the WorldTeach staff is not qualified to give medical advice.
No immunizations are required for entry to Costa Rica. However, all accepted volunteers should contact their doctor or travel health specialist to find out which immunizations are recommended for travel to Latin America. Aside from a health professional, the best source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Center for Disease Control’s website. This site provides recommendations for travel to Central America as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Volunteers may also refer to the Healthy Travel guide that WorldTeach will sends in all confirmation packets.
All students must provide documentation of 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, a Td (tetanus diphtheria) booster or Tdap (Tetanus/Diptheria/Acelluar Pertussis) within the last 10 years, 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine or waiver, meningitis vaccine or signed ODU meningitis waiver form if the student is declining to receive this vaccine, and a tuberculosis risk assessment must be completed. This risk assessment is on page 2 of the pre-entrance health history form. If tuberculosis symptoms or risk factors are present based on the answers to the risk assessment questionnaire, a PPD skin test (mantoux type) is required. Students entering a health field (nursing, dental hygeine, physical therapy, medical technology, or nuclear medicine) may also be required by their program to have the Hepatitis B vaccine series.
