Planning on spending the cold winter months in a warmer climate? Maybe you’ve booked an international getaway now that the kids are back in school? No matter where you’re travelling to this autumn, a vaccination clinic will provide you with the protection you need to enjoy your adventures and keep yourself, and your fellow travellers, safe.
You’ll be able to get all the necessary vaccinations, along with vaccination certificates and pre-travel advice, from one of these specialist clinics. It’s a good idea to get in touch with a travel clinic when planning a holiday to make the most of the services that they provide, so make sure that you arrange a trip to your local clinic when booking your next adventure.
How will a vaccination clinic help me?
When travelling abroad you are exposed to lots of exciting new experiences. Local customs, authentic cuisine, and an entirely different way of life – but one experience you don’t want to have is being ill on holiday.
Different parts of the world have their own threats to health which can be transmitted through the most indirect contact or spread through the smallest insect bite. You might not be aware of these illnesses when researching places to visit but they will cause havoc for your travel plans and ruin your experience if you are unlucky enough to catch them, so taking the right steps to protect yourself is just as important as remembering your passport or taking out travel insurance.
Travel vaccine clinics take the stress out of travel preparations and help travellers like yourself to avoid the potential health risks associated with long-distance travel. The right vaccine for you will differ depending upon the areas you are visiting, as well as your own medical history and the latest government advice, and the clinic team will provide you with the right vaccines for your dream destination.
What health services are available from a vaccination clinic?
Most European countries do not require proof of vaccination in order to enter a country, but many non-European countries do, especially in areas with high numbers of active cases. Even if the destination you are heading to does not require you to be vaccinated it is still advisable to have the recommended vaccinations done for that country to give yourself and your family the best chance of a safe and healthy trip.
Whilst you are able to get some vaccines from a GP, they are only available for diseases that pose a huge risk to public health if they are brought back to the UK, such as cholera and typhoid. Even vaccinations that are required for travel to other countries may not be available on the NHS, whilst travel clinics provide all the relevant vaccinations to protect against global health threats, including malaria, rabies, yellow fever and many more.
The name might make it sound like these clinics only offer vaccinations, but this is not the case. They also offer a wide range of health services at competitive prices, including:
- Travel vaccination certificates
- Up-to-date advice on how to avoid active health threats.
- Travel guidance for those who are pregnant, elderly or immuno-compromised.
When should I visit a travel vaccine clinic?
If you’re jetting off at any point before the end of the year, then now is the time to think about the vaccinations that you will need. The best time to visit your local vaccination clinic is 6 to 8 weeks before your departure date as this provides plenty of time to discuss your plans with the team and compile your pre-travel treatment plan, plus some vaccines require multiple doses done over several weeks to provide your body with the protection it needs.
Add a visit to your pre-travel checklist and make sure you let the practitioner know if you are:
- Visiting multiple countries.
- Travelling with children.
- Staying in rural areas.
- Suffering from pre-existing health conditions.
These are just a few factors that will result in a higher risk of infection, so if this is the case for you then it’s better to get vaccinated sooner, rather than later, with the help of a vaccination clinic.
Travel vaccines and health services in London
Heathrow Medical offers a travel clinic in West London, specialising in pre-travel advice and vaccinations for business and leisure travellers. If you require expert care and global health knowledge you can travel safe and protect your health by arranging an appointment today.
