Getting Travel Vaccinations? Everything You Need To Know Before Your Departure
Planning Your Trip Abroad
Travelling to an exotic far-away location? Or simply just looking to get some winter sun? Many people hope of getting the chance to travel abroad to locations such as Thailand, Africa or Central America. For those lucky few who are, it is important to ensure that you are fully prepared for your trip.
You may already have your flight and accommodation booked but oftentimes with the excitement, it is easy to forget other vital items that need to be taken care of prior to leaving. When travelling outside of North America, you may be at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses or diseases. There are many countries around the world where diseases such as malaria and yellow fever are rampant and without taking the correct medical vaccinations, you put yourself at substantial risk.
When planning a trip, many holidaymakers forget one of the most important parts of travelling: ensuring that you are medically prepared. It is necessary to take the correct precautions prior to your departure in order to protect yourself fully in your upcoming travel destination.
Research Your Destination
Researching your travel destination in detail before you leave can make all the difference when planning for your trip. If you are booking a vacation through a travel agent, ask them to provide you with information regarding any health concerns currently in that country that you should be aware of.
Many countries often require to show proof of all travel vaccines that you have received in order to gain entry. For example, if you are travelling to Brazil you may be required to get vaccinated against yellow fever prior to entering the country.
Getting The Travel Vaccinations You Need
Once you are aware of the travel vaccinations that you need, it is important to visit your health care provider for a health assessment and an immunization history review. Remember, some vaccines will need to be administered months in advance of your departure.
One of the most common mistakes that travellers make is leaving it too late to get the appropriate vaccines. It is also important to note that not all vaccines can be administered in the same sitting and oftentimes, vaccines can take up to a week to start producing antibodies.
Many pharmacies now offer travel vaccination services and can administer travel shots on site. You can also go to your local health clinic or a travel clinic to get your necessary vaccination. Some travel shots are provided for free such as Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, however, not all are. Other travel vaccines can be expensive and are not covered under your provincial health care program. So, when planning your travel budget make sure to take these costs into account.
Making Sure That You Are Covered
Everyone wants to be safe and healthy when vacationing abroad. So, by making sure that you are fully covered there is nothing stopping you from enjoying travelling to the fullest. Although a travel insurance policy won’t necessarily cover the cost of any travel vaccinations that you need, it will cover any medical expenses you have when abroad.
Having a travel insurance policy in place is extremely beneficial especially when travelling to a country where you don’t speak the language. If an emergency occurs, your insurance providers will help you find emergency assistance and ensure that you get the medical attention that you need. It is also worth availing of the Canadian government’s free resource, Registration of Canadians Abroad, which will alert you of any health-related issues when travelling.