If you are travelling abroad and require vaccinations you will need to complete a travel risk assessment form. Please contact us at least 30 days before travel and we will send you an online questionaire to start the process.
Some courses of vaccinations take two or three months to complete so please take this into consideration when planning your journey.
Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.
Travel Health Advice
The following information will help you to stay healthy on your trip.
Please make sure you read it following on from your appointment with us.
WATER
Diseases can be caught from drinking contaminated water, or swimming in it.
Unless you know the water supply is safe where you are staying,
ONLY USE (in order of preference)
- Boiled water
- Bottled water or canned drinks
- Water treated by a sterilising agent.
This includes water used to make ice cubes in drinks and water for cleaning your teeth
SWIMMING
It is safer to swim in water that is well chlorinated. If you are travelling to Africa, South America or some parts of the Caribbean, avoid swimming in fresh water lakes and streams. You can catch a parasitic disease called schistosomiasis from such places. This disease is also known as Bilharzia. It is also wise never to go barefoot, but to wear protective footwear when out, even on the beach. Other diseases can be caught from sand and soil, particularly wet soil.
FOOD
Contaminated food is the commonest source of many diseases abroad. You can help prevent illness by following these guidelines for advice on consuming food and beverages:
| Category |
SAFE |
PROBABLY SAFE |
UNSAFE |
| Beverages |
- Carbonated soft drinks
- Carbonated water
- Boiled water
- Purified water (iodine or chlorine)
|
- Fresh citrus juices
- Bottled water
- Packaged (machine -made ice)
|
- Tap water
- Chipped ice
- Unpasteurized milk
|
| Food |
- Hot thoroughly grilled, boiled
- Processed and packaged
- Cooked vegetables and peeled* fruits
|
- Dry items
- Hyperosmolar items (such as jam and syrup)
- Washed vegetables and fruit
|
- Salads
- Sauces and ‘salsa’
- Uncooked seafood
- Raw or poorly cooked meats
- Unpeeled* fruits
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Cold desserts
|
| Setting |
Recommended restaurants |
Local homes |
Street vendors |
| Reference: Ericsson CD. Prevention of Travellers Diarrhoea in: Keystone J, Freedman D, Kozarsky P, Connor B and Nothdurft H. Eds. Travel Medicine 3rd Edition. Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc; 2013. p. 191 -196 |