–
There is a desire to travel, there is a desire to do tourism, there is a desire to get to know other countries and to make up for the isolation that the covid-19 pandemic caused in its most aggressive explosive waves of 2020 and 2021. The staff of the international vaccination point, who is in the Territorial Health Service, is witness to this momentum that is accelerating and becoming a reality this summer.
Between May and June 2022, about the same number of travelers went to the Health consultation as they did in the twelve months of 2021, and between June and this month of July the previous annual record will be exceeded.
The movements seen this summer in the service located on Juan Carlos I avenue indicate that the activity is reactivating at pre-pandemic levels, with the prospect of reaching data similar to those of the 2019 financial year in December.
The team that offers recommendations and applies the pertinent vaccines to people traveling abroad, registered an increase in consultations of 47 percent between 2013 and 2019. Both in 2017 and in the following two years, the barrier of a thousand travelers was exceeded catered. Specifically, in 2019, 1,118 travelers were treated and 1,419 vaccines were given. These records plummeted the year of the coronavirus invasion and remained at 150 travelers and 236 vaccines. The balance of 2021 left the figure of 199 people attended and 387 prophylactic doses administered. So far in 2022, 383 travelers have already received consultation.
Between May and June of the current year alone, 176 people have passed through the Health traveler unit, and between June and July the 200 attendances will surely be exceeded because in 43 days -from June 1 to July 13- reached 141, and a weekly pace of 25 has been reached.
In September 2021, the increase in international travelers began to be noticed, which has been maintained until now, multiplying in recent months. Thus, last January, Health attended 36 queries related to international travel, in February 22, in March 47, in April 49, in May 83, in June 93, and in July, up to 48 until Wednesday the 13th.
The increase in activity is showing signs of collapsing the service that is sometimes overwhelmed, as recognized by the head of Health in Segovia, César Montarelo. “We attend to all the requests —says Montarelo— but we are already making appointments with a delay, so our advice is that at least a month and a half before the start of the trip, the consultation or request is made”.
Health recommendations have to be individualized. The head of Health points out that the risk of acquiring diseases on the trip not only depends on the country of destination but also depends on the specific area that is visited, —“it is not the same to go only to tourist areas or enter rural areas”— , the time of year, the duration of the trip, the type of trip (pleasure, leisure, work, cooperation, etc.), as well as the characteristics of the traveler and the covid situation.
Thailand in first place
A significant change that is being noticed this summer is that leisure destinations prevail over those related to work or family reasons. Thailand stands out at the top of the list with 13 percent of queries, followed by Tanzania with 8.36 percent. The Dominican Republic, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya or the Maldives also appear in the list of destinations for travelers in 2022.
CVI Services
The CVI provides individualized information on vaccination and other preventive measures for the trip, such as:
4Recommended compulsory vaccinations.
4International Vaccination Certificate if necessary.
4Measures to prevent malaria or Malaria.
4Covid information and requirements.
4Information for the prevention of risks related to:
-Food and drinks.
– The environment of the trip: sun, baths, insects, weather…
-Tips to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Contact telephone numbers: 921417175 – 860466 and direct 921417101
–
