Pharmacists Showcase Valuable Knowledge on Infectious Disease

As infectious diseases such as measles, bird flu, and tuberculosis make a concerning resurgence across the United States, travelers and health care providers alike face new challenges in safeguarding public health. Pharmacists stand at the front line, positioned to educate and prepare their patients for safe travel in a time of heightened health risks. From verifying vaccination status to providing critical advice on disease prevention, pharmacists play a vital role in mitigating the spread of these illnesses.

Being Prepared

Karla Ruiz-Cuevas, PharmD, Walmart pharmacy manager in Orlando, Florida, notes that travelers should review their vaccination records to ensure they are up-to-date on routine vaccinations before going on any international trip and recommends consulting with a local pharmacist or primary care provider about specific questions. “In addition, prior to travel, verify if the destination requires specific vaccines or if there are recent outbreaks that may be of concern,” she said. “Some vaccine requirements may be different from routine vaccinations they may have received. Practicing universal safety measures like good hygiene, wearing a mask, and avoiding contact with sick individuals is essential for protection as well.”

Asha Shah, MD, director of infectious diseases at Stamford Health in Connecticut, notes travelers should refer to the CDC’s website as a resource for up-to-date travel alerts that may pertain to their destination. “Everyone [who] is traveling internationally or to an area in the United States where there is a known measles outbreak must be up-to-date with their MMR [measles, mumps, and rubella] vaccination,” she said. “This is the most effective protection against measles. This does not necessarily mean that everyone needs a booster prior to travel, but evidence of immunity is something that should be discussed with your physician.”

Tuberculosis is endemic in certain international locations, and there is no specific vaccination recommended prior to travel to protect against this disease, as the risk of acquiring this disease while on a vacation is low.

Bird flu, Shah noted, is mainly transmitted by close contact or prolonged contact with infected birds or fomites contaminated with bird secretions or infected dairy cattle herds, especially via their milk in the absence of protective equipment (eg, eye protection, masks, gloves, etc). If traveling to an area where there is a known outbreak of bird influenza in these animals, she warns that it’s best not to visit a dairy farm.

HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, senior pharmacy director at BuzzRx, always recommends that patients ensure their routine preventive vaccinations are up to date before traveling abroad. However, there are other nonvaccinerelated measures that can help reduce the risk of contracting and spreading disease-causing germs during travel.

“This includes frequent handwashing, wiping down communal surfaces with antibacterial wipes [eg, tray tables and seats on airplanes], and opting for factory-sealed bottled water or other beverages,” she said. “It is also advisable to use a portable water filter as an extra precaution."

If patients are traveling to a destination where English is not predominantly spoken or understood, Ngo-Hamilton recommended that they create a medical ID card or bracelet that can ease language barriers for communicating medical conditions, allergies, or current medications if needed in an emergency.

Education Matters

When outbreaks occur, people generally have a heightened awareness of the disease and the options available to prevent and treat it, including vaccines and other medications. At those times, more people might seek them out, whether they’re planning to travel or not. However, that same increase in awareness can also lend itself to more disinformation about the disease and different treatment options, which can fuel hesitancy to take the vaccines.

There are several reasons why a patient may be wary of taking vaccines, no matter the type. “There is a tremendous amount of health misinformation and disinformation prominently shared on social media, search engines, and news outlets—much of it specific to vaccine injury and uncertainty around modern vaccine technology,” Ngo-Hamilton said. “For some people, vaccine hesitancy may be rooted in their cultural norms of lived experiences. To address this, the most important thing you can do is present patients with credible facts supported by scientific data and contextualized against credible information about their potential health risks.”

Achieving this is not an overnight task. Therefore, pharmacists should prioritize building trust with patients to understand the roots of their hesitancy and fears. “This approach allows me to have open dialogues with them, addressing their questions and concerns with an open mind,” Ngo-Hamilton said.

Pharmacists can promote awareness about the risks of infectious diseases and recommend a travel safety kit with a mix of essential OTC medications, according to Ruiz-Cuevas. “Some of the concerns I hear from patients [are] how to access travel vaccines, as these vaccines are different [from] the ones routinely offered during a regular visit to the pharmacy,” she said. “Various infectious diseases do not have a vaccine to protect against [them], in which case [it] is important to educate about safety measures. Your local pharmacist can help assess if there are vaccinations you may need to receive before traveling and/or make recommendations about OTC medications that may be useful during travel.”

Final Thoughts

Ngo-Hamilton believes there is a common misconception that pharmacists solely work on dispensing medications, but she tries to teach her customers about the valuable resources pharmacists can provide to patients.

“Not only can pharmacists administer some of the vaccines that may be important to acquire before traveling internationally, but they can also be helpful in conducting a risk assessment to determine which vaccines you might need,” she said. “Additionally, pharmacists can assist in identifying important medications to bring along and educate people about potential [adverse] effects and safe storage of these medications while they are away from home.”

As the world becomes more interconnected, understanding what travelers and pharmacists need to know about infectious diseases is crucial to protect individuals and communities alike.

To read these stories and more, download the PDF of the Drug Topics September/October issue here.

Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.