Travel Medicine Services
Why is a pre-travel health consultation important?
When planning an overseas trip, patients often ask, “What vaccinations do I need for my destination?” It’s a great question, but travel health involves much more than just a vaccination list. We often find that two people travelling to the same country may have very different health needs. For example, someone spending a week at a resort in Thailand may face different health risks from someone backpacking through rural areas for several months. Your individual travel health needs can depend on:
- Your destination: Which countries and regions are you visiting?
- Your activities: Will you be relaxing at a resort, trekking, diving or exploring remote areas?
- Your medical history: Do you have existing health conditions or take regular medicines?
- Your vaccination history: Are your routine and travel vaccinations up to date?
- Your travel dates: How soon are you leaving, and how long will you be away?
Understanding these factors helps our pharmacists provide advice suited to your trip.
Which travel health appointment should you book?
At Manly Village Compounding Pharmacy, we offer two travel health appointment options to suit your needs.
Option 1: Prescribing Pharmacist – Comprehensive Travel Health Consultation
Best for travellers who want a more comprehensive assessment, including advice about prescription medicines.
Our prescribing pharmacist service takes a broader approach to preparing you for overseas travel. Depending on your individual needs, your consultation may include:
- A review of your travel itinerary and planned activities
- Assessment of travel-related health risks
- Review of your vaccination history and recommendations
- Advice on preventing and managing common travel illnesses
- Review of existing medicines and travel-related medication considerations
- Advice on preparing a personalised travel health kit
- Assessment for appropriate prescription treatments, where clinically indicated and permitted under the pharmacist’s prescribing authority
Where your travel health needs require more specialised assessment or treatment, our pharmacist can recommend an appropriate referral. This appointment is particularly useful if you’re travelling to multiple destinations, visiting rural areas, planning adventure activities or would like a more detailed travel health plan.
Please note: Prescription medicines are not automatically provided during a consultation. Any prescribing is subject to clinical assessment, eligibility and the pharmacist’s authorised scope of practice.
Option 2: Travel Clinic – Vaccinations Only
Vaccinations are an important part of protecting yourself against preventable illnesses while travelling. Depending on your destination, activities and vaccination history, you may need to consider vaccinations for:
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Japanese encephalitis
- Rabies
- Influenza
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Other destination-specific diseases
Some countries also have vaccination requirements for entry, such as yellow fever vaccination certificates.
When should you book your travel health appointment?
Ideally, arrange your appointment at least 6–8 weeks before departure. This allows time to review your health needs, organise vaccinations and complete any necessary vaccine schedules. Leaving sooner? It’s still worth seeking advice. Even if your departure date is approaching, there may be steps you can take to reduce your travel health risks.
What should you bring to your appointment?
To help us prepare for your consultation, bring:
- Your travel itinerary, including countries, regions and departure dates
- Your medicare card number to access your vaccination history
- A list of your current medicines and supplements
- Details of any relevant medical conditions or allergies
- Any specific health concerns about your destination or activities
Book your travel health appointment online
Travel health recommendations depend on individual circumstances and current destination-specific guidance. Some vaccinations, medicines and specialist services may require referral.
