Nevertheless, extensive travel makes you more prone than usual to disease. Take a look at your immunization records before you go. Travelers over two years old should be sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR ; DTaP or Td ; OPV ; HbCV . Hepatitis A vaccine and/or immune globulin is a good idea. Check with a doctor for guid- ance through this maze of injections. USEFUL ORGANIZATIONS & PUBLICATIONS The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains an informative web site. The CDC's comprehensive booklet Health Information for International Travel, an annual rundown of disease, immunization, and general health advice, is free online or US$25 via the Public Health Foundation . Consult the appropri- ate government agency of your home country for consular information sheets on health, entry requirements, and other issues for various countries . For quick information on health and other travel warnings, call the Overseas Citizens Services , contact a passport agency or an embassy or consulate abroad. US citizens can send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Overseas Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, #4811, US Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. For information on medical evacuation services and travel insurance firms, see the US government's web site at http://travel.state.gov/medical.html or the Brit- ish Foreign and Commonwealth Office . For detailed information on travel health, including a country-by-country over- view of diseases, try the International Travel Health Guide, by Stuart Rose, MD . For general health info, contact the American Red Cross . MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE ROAD Medical care in Israel is equivalent in quality to that in the West. For minor ill- nesses, go to a pharmacy. Israeli law requires that at least one pharmacy in a neighborhood be open or on call at all times. Pharmacists offer medical advice as well as medication; most speak English. In more serious situations, see a doctor. Almost all Israeli doctors speak nearly fluent English. Because Israel's system of socialized medicine has only recently begun to be privatized, private practice is very expensive, and medical insurance is a must. Medical care in Israel is generally more available and of higher quality than in the Palestinian territories. If you are concerned about being able to access medical support while traveling, there are special support services you may employ. The MedPass from Global Care, Inc., 2001 Westside Pkwy., #120, Alpharetta, GA 30004, USA , provides 24hr. international medical assistance, support, and medical evacuation resources. The International Associa- tion for Medical Assistance to Travelers has free membership, lists English-speaking doctors worldwide, and offers detailed info on immuniza- tion requirements and sanitation. If your regular insurance policy does not cover travel abroad, you may wish to purchase additional coverage .