Vulnerable Groups and Travel Health Considerations

Sarah L. McGuinness () and Robert Steffen ()
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Sarah L. McGuinness: The Alfred Hospital
Robert Steffen: University of Zurich

A chapter in Tourist Health, Safety and Wellbeing in the New Normal, 2021, pp 71-112 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Renowned speaker and author Denis Waitley states that “Life is inherently risky” and travel may be associated with additional risks, particularly to health. The nature of these health risks depends on environmental and host factors. In this chapter we focus on the latter, particularly factors related to physiological vulnerabilities or pre-existing conditions (as opposed to particular risk behaviours). We consider vulnerable travellers to be those at relatively increased risk of travel-related health problems and/or who face particular challenges or issues while travelling. Vulnerable traveller groups include children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older adults, travellers with pre-existing diseases, physically challenged travellers and the immunocompromised. While travel is rarely contraindicated for these groups, pre-travel consultation with a health practitioner is essential to ensure that risks are evaluated, and appropriate precautions taken. In this chapter, we discuss the literature pertaining to travel health risks in these vulnerable groups, and specific considerations with regard to prevention and management of infection, injury, and other health issues that may be encountered while abroad.

Keywords: Travel; Health; Vulnerable groups; Medical conditions; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-16-5415-2_4

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-5415-2_4

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