Question 1

I would like to get an idea of what vaccines I might need for my destination. Where can I find this information?

Accepted Answer

Take a look at the blog entry titled 'What vaccines do I need?' T(https://www.travelhealthmd.ca/post/sample-itineraries)his particular entry provides info on discussion topics/recommended vaccines for 10 of the most popular destinations for travellers visiting our clinic.

Question 2

What is a travel clinic?

Accepted Answer

A travel clinic is a place to receive health relevant to staying healthy while abroad. Dr. McCullagh-Cheung provides tailored health advice relevant to your specific travel itinerary. She personalises each consult by taking into account your health history and chronic conditions (if applicable) when prescribing as well as your level of comfort with international travel. Some common topics of discussion include prevention of infectious diseases (via vaccination if relevant or avoidance measures), traveller’s diarrhea and altitude sickness. At the end of the consult, if vaccines are recommended, you can choose to have these administered at the clinic (we stock vaccines on site) by our nurse. You will be provided with copies of prescriptions to take to a pharmacy of your choice (if relevant) and a copy of your consult note.

Question 3

Who should see a travel health specialist?

Accepted Answer

Dr. McCullagh-Cheung will see anyone who wants travel-related health advice. Some examples of types of trips she has counselled on include: parents travelling with small children, backpacking and leisure trips, business trips and cruise travel. Most people choose to get this once they have booked their trips; others prefer input at the trip-planning stage.

Question 4

How are consults offered?

Accepted Answer

Appointments are offered virtually by phone or videocall.

Question 5

When is a good time to book my travel consult?

Accepted Answer

Ideally, 4-6 weeks but we can often accommodate people closer to their travel date if this is not possible.

Question 6

I don’t have extended health insurance. Medications are cheap at my destination. Should I buy them there?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, worldwide there are issues with counterfeit medications. Also, there are ethical issues with depleting supplies meant for nationals of the destination country, for example, in the case of taking antimalarials where some medications are used both for prevention and treatment at different doses.

Question 7

Do I need a referral to be seen?

Accepted Answer

No referral is needed.

Question 8

If I am behind on my standard public health vaccinations e.g. Tetanus, can I get this at the travel clinic?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, we carry the standard public health vaccines and will be happy to update these for you while you are here. Just be sure to have your OHIP card with you.

Question 9

How many times will I need to be seen?

Accepted Answer

Usually once. If you choose to initiate a vaccine series, you may be encouraged to book a follow up to complete the series with our nurse.

Question 10

What if I have a complex health issue?

Accepted Answer

We will certainly consider this when prescribing. If you take certain medications eg biologics, it is recommended that live vaccines such as Yellow fever and MMR be avoided. It is important to note that some medications which are prescribed in Canada are banned in other countries- this can be the case with opiates as well as some ADHD medications. As such, it is always a good idea to check with the Consulate of the country you are travelling to. For the most part, medications for the duration of your travel are permitted so long as they are in their original packaging with the name and dosage of medication as well as prescriber clearly marked.

Question 11

Will my family physician be updated on the vaccines I received at the clinic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, continuity of care is important so we will do this if you provide us with your family doctor's name/contact information. We will also provide you with an updated vaccine record.

Question 12

I have family at my travel destination. I grew up there. Do I really need to go to a travel clinic?

Accepted Answer

Depending on where you are travelling to, you may benefit from precautions such as taking antimalarials if you are travelling to a malaria-endemic area. This is because immunity you may have built up from years of exposure will have waned even in the first year or two after leaving your country. If you have children that were born in Canada, they will have no natural immunity to diseases such as malaria, hepatits A or typhoid.

Question 13

I would like to have a video appointment. What browser works best?

Accepted Answer

We recommend logging into your video appointment using chrome where possible.

FAQs