Travelling with Interferon

[PT99]

Hi folks

I’m travelling abroad for first time for 5 years and from memory, I previously had to carry a letter from my consultant as justification for carrying my peg on the plane (presumably as it’s a needle).

Does anyone who has travelled recently know if this is still the case?

Thanks in advance

Pete

[C2Cnext]

Your need to carry a letter depends on the country you’re travelling to. Better safe than sorry I reckon, it is worth carrying a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doc if possible.

With regards carrying the sharps/needle in carry on - my research suggests that most countries and airlines allow it. However, I’m going to pack the needles in my suitcase and only carry the vials in my carry on (in a cold pack). Again I’m adopting a better safe than sorry approach - the airlines might allow it, but who wants to get into a negotiation with the security screening staff? Not me.

[Anag in reply to C2Cnext]

I would call the airline ahead of time to make sure! I would not put my needles in my checked in luggage. It’s been lost too often and depending on where you’re going, you might not be able to get them. My Besremi has special needles and I waited for two days to get them, even though I’m in Vienna Austria where it’s produced. I had to show them the needle to order.

[Wyebird in reply to C2Cnext]

Please Think carefully about packing your needles in a suitcase. What will happen if it’s lost.

[Exeter21 in reply to C2Cnext]

bad idea re needles if your main bag delayed or lost no injection 🙈. I keep them sealed in prescription them come in & pack in cool bag & carry through with letter they are always fine long & shirt haul 👍

[Abrams]

I’ve recently travelled to Australia with my Interferon . I had a letter from my consultant and my prescription just in case. I carried the drugs in a special cold bag that would keep them at the right temperature. I would definitely advise not putting needles in your suitcase and keep the prescription complete in the pack. I went through Malaysia with no problems. I was told at Heathrow not to put them through the scanner and each country I told them what I had. Some not all airports opened the bag very briefly to check. Airports are used to people carrying their drugs nowadays. I was very concerned before departing but it was a painless experience.

Have a great holiday!

[T1960 in reply to Abrams]

Hi. Can I ask you about the special cool bag. What type kind is it please. I'm going camping in Cornwall in June and will need a separate cold fridge bag/something. Would love some advice on this.

[Grendall in reply to T1960]

Hi, they are only a few pounds from the likes of Amazon, see pic…. Hope this helps

Colour

[T1960 in reply to Grendall]

Thank you. As long as they stay cold enough.

[Wyebird in reply to T1960]

I’m afraid I’d think twice about those. You need access to a freezer to refreeze the ice packs. I suggest to buy a fridge thermometer.

[Abrams in reply to T1960]

I bought mine from a company called Medigenix -    MedActiv iCool MediCube Medicine Travel Case (2 - 8°C). Thought it a good investment as I frequently travel to Australia. I needed it large enough to carry 7 packs, maintaining the temperature required which it certainly did. I bought a thermometer to check. Easy to carry as hand luggage.

For camping I don’t know as this only guarantees 36 hrs. The company are very helpful worth phoning them. Their no is 01403 289 370. They were so helpful.

[T1960 in reply to Abrams]

Thanks very much for your help and the company number

[Wyebird in reply to Abrams]

yes I think it’s a good investment if often travelling for a long time and distance.

[PT99]

Many thanks for your replies. Going from UK to Spain and seems sensible to get a letter then, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks again

[Exeter21 in reply to PT99]

keep it all in hand luggage Never in hold bags. They get scanned too & if anything dodgy your bag & contents will be removed . Also May never arrive ….. I think we all know that 👍. Spain were fine but I had letter incase . Happy Hols ✈️

[Wyebird]

I did 6 weeks in NZ and Australia in nove/ dec 2022.

I took a letter but don’t think anyone actually read it.

I was told by the airline prior to travel that they wouldn’t always store my Peg on board. Going to NZ they did. ( Singapore Airelines) others wouldn’t though they would supply ice.

I found zipped plastic bags and a sandwich cool bag the best as you can replenish with ice almost anywhere.

Better still try and tweak your doses I did for 10 days in Kenya recently. I tweaked for about 5 weeks prior going 16 days instead of 14 so that it coincided with taking a jab a few days before departure then one as soon as I returned.

[Exeter21]

yes Pete I had to show mine last month to Spain & for long haul . Depends on who is on the security gate though as some just check my sealed cartons in cool bag others ask for reason so give them letter I paid £25 for my Dr to do 👍. Julia

[Exeter21]

I also now tweet my jabs if a short trip to do it before I leave . Same long haul it then reduces amount I need to take. Haemotology happy with that for me & same as Wyebird I do a bag of ice in small sandwich cool bag &!top up on move . Always ice somewhere. Hotel put it in fridge for me . Only planes are sniffy incase someone uses it to stab someone & hijack plane 😂😂😂👍

[Wyebird in reply to Exeter21]

yes the plastic bag was a godsend, I’m afraid I can’t take credit it was someone on healthunlocked suggested it. I also took medi cool bags just incase there was a fridge/ freezer and I bought a fudge thermometer that was good too x

[Jynx93]

I went to Greece last year and I had to get a letter from the hospital and also my GP for all my medication. It also had to be signed. Maybe it depends where you are going. Rules have changed now we aren’t in the EU. Had to pay for the GP letter

[Solebury]

Just traveled from the States to Switzerland and Spain carrying 3 doses of preloaded Peginterferon and associated needles. They looked inside the thermos they were stored in but no problems. I did tape a copy of the pharmacist’s label on the outside of the container and naturally kept all meds in my carry on bag. No one asked for a letter or any other documents.

[swimswam]

I travelled from Manchester to Thailand via Doha last week. Had a consultants letter and took Pegasys boxes containing needles in hand luggage along with injection vials in disoncare medical cooler (available from Amazon). Staff at Manchester had to undo the cooler to inspect the freezer gel, and took out the vials to swab, but said they didn’t need the letter and were very quick at getting it through so the vials could be sealed back in the cold. Qatar Airways were amazing, put the vials in sealed zipper bags in the fridge on request, and provided ice for the emergency top up pack in the cooler for my 3 hour transfer to my hotel. Altogether with an overnight stay in Manchester my Pegasys had to be kept cool for over 36 hours and was ok.