Travel & Vaccinations
Get the right advice and vaccinations before you go, so you can focus on the trip.
Travelling overseas is exciting, but different destinations carry different health risks and knowing what you need before you leave can make a real difference to your trip. Our GPs provide pre-travel health consultations covering destination-specific advice, recommended and required vaccinations, and medication for conditions like malaria and traveller's diarrhoea. Whether you are heading somewhere well-trodden or somewhere a little more off the beaten track, it is worth booking a travel appointment well before your departure date.
What to Expect
When you book a travel appointment, let our team know your destination, your planned departure date and roughly how long you will be away. This helps your GP prepare for the consultation and make sure nothing important gets missed.
At your appointment your GP will go through your travel plans, review your vaccination history and discuss any health risks specific to where you are going and what you plan to do. Any vaccinations needed can usually be administered at the same appointment or at a follow-up visit if multiple vaccines are required on a schedule.
Some vaccinations need to be given several weeks before departure to allow time for your immune system to respond. For destinations that require a course of vaccinations over time, you will need to allow even longer. As a general rule, book your travel appointment at least six to eight weeks before your departure date. If you are leaving sooner than that, come in anyway as there is still plenty we can do to prepare you for your trip.
Important Note on Timing
Some vaccinations take time to become effective and some need to be given in a course over several weeks. Leaving your travel appointment too close to your departure date can limit your options. We recommend booking at least six to eight weeks before you travel, and earlier if possible for more complex destinations or longer trips.
If you are travelling soon and have not yet had a travel consultation, please call your preferred clinic directly rather than booking online so we can make sure you are seen as quickly as possible.
How We Help
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A pre-travel consultation is a dedicated appointment with your GP to talk through the health risks specific to your destination, how long you are going for and what you will be doing while you are there. Your GP will review your vaccination history, recommend any vaccinations or boosters you need and discuss any medications that might be appropriate for your trip. It is also a good opportunity to talk through your general health and make sure you are fit to travel.
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Different destinations require or recommend different vaccinations. Some are strongly recommended for your protection while others, such as yellow fever, are required for entry into certain countries. Common travel vaccinations include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningococcal and yellow fever among others. Your GP will advise which are relevant to your specific destination and circumstances and arrange for these to be administered at the clinic.
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A travel appointment is also a good time to check that your routine vaccinations are up to date. Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles are worth reviewing before any international trip, particularly if it has been a while since your last booster.
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Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease present in parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Pacific. If you are travelling to a malaria-affected region, your GP can prescribe appropriate preventive medication and advise on other protective measures to take while you are away.
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Traveller's diarrhoea is one of the most common health issues affecting overseas travellers. Your GP can prescribe medication to take with you as a precaution and advise on food and water safety for your destination. Other travel-related medications such as altitude sickness tablets can also be discussed and prescribed at your travel appointment.
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If you have an existing health condition or take regular medication, a pre-travel consultation is particularly important. Your GP can advise on managing your condition while away, make sure you have enough medication for the duration of your trip and provide a letter summarising your health needs if required for travel insurance or customs purposes.
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If your travel destination requires yellow fever vaccination, we are accredited at both Gisborne & Woodend to provide this. Please book in with Dr Umair, Dr Carl or Dr Tiffany to discuss your yellow fever vaccination. After vaccination, you will be given the yellow book to take on your travels.
Book an Appointment Today
Planning a trip? Book your travel consultation before you book your flights. Book online at your preferred clinic, any time.
