Planning your trip
 
When making an appointment for travel vaccinations please note that you need to:

• Advise reception the appointment is for travel medicine.
• Anyone travelling overseas should see a doctor regarding their travel plans. Even if you think your travel destination is safe, keep in mind that disease outbreaks can and do happen.
• Vaccination offers good protection against many diseases.
• Allow six weeks before your departure date for the first visit to maximise vaccine coverage. However, it is still better to be late than never! We can still help you stay well while travelling whatever your departure date.
• Provide information about the length of your trip, the type of accommodation that you will be staying in and activities that you will be involved in.
• Bring your itinerary so that we can give you the best possible advice.
• Where possible download and complete these Malaria and Pre-Travel checklists and bring them to your appointment.
• Alert the doctor if you have any chronic illnesses, are allergic to anything or take any medications.
• Please bring with you any records of your previous vaccinations.
• For complicated travel issues you may be asked to attend a follow up appointment.
• You will be charged an initial consultation fee (depending on complexity of your trip) of which a portion can be claimed from Medicare.  Follow up visits to complete the vaccine course planned at this visit are bulk-billed.  If you have private insurance with pharmaceutical cover you may be able to claim a portion of the vaccine costs.

 Vaccinations fall into three different categories – Routine, Recommended and Required.

Routine
Most vaccinations that are routinely administered during childhood may require a periodic booster for effective immunity whilst travelling. We recommend for those people who have not followed regular vaccinations during their adulthood to organise pre-travel boosters.

Routine vaccinations may include:

• Diptheria/tetanus
• Hepatitis B
• HIB (Haemophilus influenza type b)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Poliomyelitis (IPV)
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
  

Recommended
Vaccines are recommended to travellers according to the type of itinerary. This includes the length, type and nature of the travel. Importantly is the countries to be visited and personal considerations.
Recommended vaccines are:

• Cholera
• Influenza
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Meningococcal Meningitis
• Pneumococcal disease
• Rabies
• Tick-borne Encephalitis
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid fever
  

Required
The only vaccination that is mandatory under International Health Regulations is Yellow Fever. Some countries may require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before a visa can be granted or as a condition of entry. It is also important to protect a traveller in countries where the risk of infection is high.

For specific information on the types of travel vaccinations click on the following link:
http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Immunisation_for_Travel

For information on current travel alerts issued by the Australian Government click on the following link http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/