From yellow fever to malaria prevention, here is what you need to know before your next adventure.
From yellow fever to malaria prevention, here is what you need to know before your next adventure. Book your travel health consultation at Wilmslow Pharmacy.
Good trips start weeks before the airport
The most common travel health mistake is simply leaving it too late. Some vaccines need several doses spread over weeks, some destinations require proof of vaccination at the border, and malaria tablets often need to be started before you fly. Work through the checklist below, counting back from your departure date, and you will arrive protected rather than hoping for the best. If your trip is sooner than eight weeks away, do not panic, but do get in touch straight away, as there is almost always something useful we can still do.
Book your travel health consultation
- Book a travel health consultation so we can review your itinerary, medical history and current vaccinations
- Check the entry requirements for every country on your route, including stopovers, as some require a yellow fever certificate even for transit
- Note whether your destination carries a malaria risk, and whether rabies, hepatitis B or Japanese encephalitis protection is recommended for your activities
- Dig out your vaccination records so we know what cover you already have
Start vaccination courses and arrange antimalarials
- Begin any multi-dose vaccination courses, such as hepatitis B or rabies, which are spread over several weeks
- Have single-dose vaccines such as typhoid and hepatitis A, giving your immune system time to respond before you travel
- Arrange your malaria prevention tablets; the right choice depends on your destination, your health and how long you are away, and some regimens start a week or more before you enter a malaria zone
- Book your yellow fever vaccination if your destination requires or recommends it (see the note below on timing)
Last-minute vaccines that still count
- Booked a late trip? Vaccines such as hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus boosters can still offer worthwhile protection even at short notice
- Confirm any remaining doses of multi-dose courses are booked in
- Stock up on insect repellent (ideally 50% DEET for malaria zones), bite treatment and a mosquito net if needed
Kit, medicines and paperwork
- Put together a travel health kit: painkillers, rehydration sachets, antihistamines, plasters, antiseptic, sun cream and any anti-diarrhoeal medicine we recommend
- Order enough of your regular prescription medicines to cover the whole trip plus a few spare days, and keep them in their original packaging
- Check whether any of your medicines are restricted at your destination and whether you need a doctor’s letter or copy prescription
- Apply for or check your GHIC (the UK Global Health Insurance Card, which replaced the EHIC) for state healthcare cover in the EU; existing EHIC cards remain valid until their expiry date
- Arrange travel insurance that covers your health conditions, your destinations and your planned activities; a GHIC is not a substitute for insurance
Final checks before you fly
- Pack all medicines, your yellow fever certificate and insurance documents in your hand luggage, never in the hold
- Take your first malaria tablet on schedule if your regimen has already started, and set reminders for the rest of the course
- Keep well hydrated on the flight, and move around regularly on long journeys
A word about yellow fever
Yellow fever deserves special planning. Some countries in Africa and South America will not let you in without an International Certificate of Vaccination, and the certificate only becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so this is one jab you cannot leave to the last minute. Wilmslow Pharmacy is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, which means we can administer the vaccine and issue the official certificate on site. Find out more on our yellow fever vaccination page.
Ready to tick everything off in one visit?
Our travel clinic covers the whole checklist in one place: a personalised risk assessment for your itinerary, travel vaccinations, antimalarials, yellow fever certificates and honest advice on what you actually need rather than a one-size-fits-all list. Start with our travel health service page, check our price list for vaccination costs, or call us on 01625 523414 and we will help you plan backwards from your departure date.
Ready to take the next step?
Book your travel health consultation with Wilmslow Pharmacy. Same-day and next-day appointments usually available.
