Balmoral Medical Practice offers a full range of travel medicines & vaccinations. Travellers to a number of different countries, should book a long consultation (30 minutes) to complete the comprehensive advice, medication scripts, vaccinations, and international vaccination certificates.
‘We also check whether all government recommended vaccinations are up to date for illnesses such as tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
When to see your doctor?
Travellers should visit their doctor at least 4-10 weeks before travel, for advice about which vaccinations may be required.
Some vaccinations are required to be given over a specific time frame (e.g. 3 or 6 months) and completed within a certain timeframe before departure. This is to allow the body to build antibody immunity prior to arrival in the foreign country. If you are unsure when to book an appointment, please look at our link (bottom of homepage) for the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to learn more information about the country in which you plan to travel, and the relevant disease risk.
Know what vaccine you need?
Please inform reception staff when making an appointment if you know you need a specific vaccination that requires pre-ordering eg. rabies vaccine. Please note that specific costs may apply for different vaccinations and immunisations.
See the Australian Health Department’s hints for travellers here for more information.
Purpose of immunisation
To protect against potential serious disease for at-risk travellers.
To protect countries from importation of disease, for example the yellow fever virus. This is the basis for country immunisation requirements.
Common travel vaccinations
Areas of the world, where travel vaccinations are recommended*
Hepatitis A
Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas of poor or uncertain hygiene, including all developing countries. The risk of infection is high.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is the most contagious common blood-borne virus. Immunisation is recommended for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults, long term travellers to regions of high prevalence, and short term travellers who may be at risk. The World Health Organisation recommends the vaccine be considered for virtually all travellers to highly endemic regions.
Tuberculosis
Vaccination is generally recommended for children aged < 5 years who will be living in developing countries for more than 3 months. There is less evidence of the benefit of vaccination in older children, although consideration should be given to children aged less than 16 years who may be living for long periods in high-risk countries.
A mantoux skin prick test is required initially, as vaccination can cause skin ulceration, and is only given to certain patients. Dr Manovel is an accredited tuberculosis vaccinator, and can advise about the need for tuberculosis vaccination in your specific circumstances.
Typhoid Fever
Vaccination is recommended for all travel to areas of poor hygiene and unclean water, including all developing countries for more than brief periods.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever occurs in a limited number of countries, but there are specific vaccination requirements to travel through these countries. The vaccine itself carries some risk, and this should be discussed with your doctor well in advance of travel.
Rabies
Rabies is a serious disease passed on by bites or scratches from infected animals, most commonly dogs, monkeys, and bats. Without prior immunisation it is often terminal despite post exposure treatments. For cycling trips, animal interactive jobs, or staying extended periods in certain third world countries, prior rabies vaccination is critical. The vaccine is 3 separate doses taken over a 3-4 weeks, and requires pre-ordering given its significant expense. Vaccination lasts for life.
References
1) World Health Organization. International Travel and Health 2005. Geneva
2) Centres for Disease Control & Prevention. The Yellow Book. Health Information for International Travel. 2005/2006
Disclaimer
This information does not constitute personalised medical advice, and is for information purposes only. If considering overseas travel please discuss your itinerary with your doctor for assessment of current risk and relevant medical advice.
