“Why do I need a travel consultation?” This is one of the most common questions we hear in the call center when clients phone to book appointments for travel vaccines. Coming to a travel clinic is more than just getting vaccines for your trip. The travel consultation is tailored to your specific trip and travel plans. Two people going to the same country might receive completely different vaccines depending on their itinerary and planned activities. The travel consultation is also much more than just vaccines. We will tell you about disease risks on your trip and offer advice to keep you safe and healthy while abroad. If you need travel-related prescriptions, we will also arrange those. All of this can be done during one visit to the clinic. TMVC is your one-stop shop to prepare you for a safe and healthy trip.
Keep reading this blog to find out more about what to expect from your travel consultation at TMVC.
TMVC’s Travel Consultants
Your travel consultation will be scheduled with one of TMVC’s doctors, nurse practitioners, or nurse consultants. Many of TMVC’s consultants love to travel and there’s a good chance your consultant has travelled to your destination. Any health professional providing a consult at TMVC is up to date on the latest outbreaks and vaccine recommendations. The consult takes approximately 20 minutes for an in-person appointment, and vaccine administration usually takes another 20 minutes. You can also request to book a consultation by phone if this is more convenient for you.
Trip Details and Risk Assessment
The consultant will review the details of your trip to determine your health risks. There may be different risks depending on the countries you’re visiting, the length of your trip, what type of travel you’re doing (e.g., backpacking vs the business traveller), where you’re going (e.g., cities vs. rural areas), and planned activities (e.g., mountain climbing, cycling, adventure activities vs. sightseeing in the city). The consultant will ask several questions to help complete a risk assessment for your specific trip. This will be the basis for vaccine and medication recommendations.
Health History Review
The consultant will review your health history including allergies, medications you’re taking, and medical conditions. These factors could affect vaccines and medications that are recommended for your trip. Please be sure to bring a list of your current medications to your appointment.
Vaccine Recommendation and Administration
The consultant will recommend vaccines for your trip. Some vaccines may be required for your itinerary (e.g., yellow fever), while others are recommended for protection. It is not required to receive any or all of the recommended vaccines for your trip. The choice is always yours. The consultant will provide all the information about the vaccines and disease risks so you can make an informed decision to receive the recommended vaccines.
Next, the vaccines will be prepared and administered at the same visit. However, if you’re unsure about any recommended vaccines you can also book an appointment to come back another day for your vaccines.
Travel Related Prescriptions
Travel-related prescriptions include malaria pills, medication to prevent altitude sickness or an antibiotic to treat severe traveller’s diarrhea. The consultant will determine if any or all of these medications are recommended for your travel itinerary. The prescriptions are then arranged for pick up at a pharmacy of your choice.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The travel consultation is more than just a talk about vaccines. We want to ensure you have a safe and healthy trip and will offer advice to keep you from getting sick. This may include food and water precautions to prevent foodborne illnesses, or ways to avoid being bitten by mosquitos that can spread diseases. We are also up to date on the latest outbreaks, so will inform you of any diseases you should know about at your destination.
What to Bring
There are a few things that are helpful to bring to your travel consultation:
• Your detailed travel itinerary
• Your vaccine records, if available (we will have a record of any vaccines you previously received at TMVC, but we do not have access to any of your medical records for vaccines received elsewhere)
• A list of your current medications
• Your completed TMVC health profile form emailed to you with your booking confirmation. We also have these in the clinic if you don’t have enough time to complete the form in advance.
When to Book Your Travel Consultation
The ideal time to book your travel consultation is 6 weeks before your departure. This allows enough time to complete any vaccine series before your trip if more than one dose is required. We understand though that life is busy, or some trips are booked last minute – not to worry! A travel consultation is still recommended even if you’re leaving on your trip the next day!
How to Book Your Travel Consultation
It’s easy to book your travel consultation at TMVC. Simply give us a call at 1-888-288-8682 or book online. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you stay healthy on your next travel adventure!
