When you book a trip away, you will no doubt be excited. The memories you’ll make, the cultures you’ll experience and the new food and drink you will try are a major draw of travelling to new and exotic locations.
One thing you shouldn’t forget about before you set off is your health – especially when travelling to a new country or continent, illness can not only ruin your trip but can lead to deeper health implications. If you take the time to understand the risks found at your destination before you jet off, then you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your holiday to its full potential.
Travel clinics will help you to understand the risk to your health and how to deal with them. If you’ve never visited one before, then you may not know what to expect. This blog will provide a short rundown of the consultation process to help put your mind at ease.
If you want to get the most out of a travel clinic, it is best to book the appointment at least 6 weeks before your departure, this will give you ample time to discuss any queries with the clinician and allow for a detailed vaccination course to be carried out to ensure you are properly protected before the trip. Short notice appointments can be given to you, but carry a risk, the immunisation course you need will not normally be offered to you.
On the day of your appointment, you will be advised to bring a detailed set of your immunisation records, list of activities, area(s) of travel and those travelling with you – the more prepared you are for the consultation, the more professional advice you can expect to receive. A travel clinician will ask you a number of questions referring to the plans you’ve provided and past travel information that may affect your upcoming trip.
The specialist will help you understand how to keep yourself protected from the risk of disease while abroad and offer you expert guidance on which vaccinations you may want to consider. The consultation will cover the vaccinations to prioritise, the best ways to keep yourself protected if a vaccination isn’t possible and the factors that you may want to consider if travelling to that location is dangerous – vaccines aren’t recommended for those with weakened immune systems, who are pregnant, or of old age.
Some countries and continents require an International Certificate of Vaccination before you can be permitted to travel there, this will usually be provided to you after your vaccination course is finished.
If you have received a vaccination in the past from your GP, then you may want to discuss the possibility of a booster dose if the part of the world you are visiting has a widespread alert for a certain disease.
If you are looking for a local travel clinic to help keep you safe while aboard, or are in need of an emergency consultation, then you can visit Travel Clinic Near Me to book a free appointment and receive professional advice and treatment from top clinicians.